Dare To Be Free: One Of The Greatest True Stories Of World War II

by W.B. 'Sandy' Thomas

When the Germans invaded Crete in 1941, Sandy Thomas was shipped to the Greek mainland as one of their prisoners. Despite being severely wounded in the leg he attempted several escapes, including being carried out of his POW camp in a coffin. He finally succeeded in a spectacular escape, and made his way across Greece to Mount Athos, a rocky peninsula populated solely by monks. Here he evaded capture for over a year, before finally stealing a boat and navigating his way through winter seas to freedom in Turkey. This, his story, is one of the great escape narratives of the Second World War

Genres: History, Biography, War, World War II, Military Fiction

245 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather drawn out account of the authors' fighting on Crete, his capture after wounding and subsequent escapes from hospitals and camps in German occupied Greece until he got to freedom in neutral Turkey. The story is interesting, especially him living with the monks at Mount Athos. If you can handle the rather needless description of the minutest details, then give this book a look.

[Catherine Vamianaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of best true stories I have ever read about the war.

[Gemma Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never thought I'd be interested in a war book like this, told from the perspective of a soldier. It's not based on a well known story like that of Anne Frank or an Auschwitz survivor, but instead of one man's story which is unique in being his and his alone. What I thought would make it a boring war story was actually what made it the most interesting.

Sandy Thomas had the most extraordinary adventure whilst escaping from capture. He met the most extraordinary people who showed the best of humanity in one of the most shameful moments of human history. The story is so uplifting and I would recommend to those both interested in the war and those who aren't.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read about a New Zealand soldier who escapes from a Nazi prison camp.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite an incredible true WW2 story of 'Sandy' Thomas' escape after his initial injury and capture in Crete, on to hospital in Athens, a POW camp in Salonika, walking to Mt. Athos, stealing a boat in N Greece and sailing down to Izmir in Turkey, eventually meeting up with allied soldiers on the Syrian border. This is not a spoiler, as the first page shows all this on a very helpful map, and this book is punctuated with other maps, diagrams and photographs along the way. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of such stories of WW2 and escapes, but this one is exceptional, rather educational and told particularly well, illustrating the kindness of so many strangers along the way that it gladdens the heart throughout. I couldn't put it down for long and the ending had me almost in tears. Quite brilliant. 5/5

[Velvetink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it sometime, the cover is off, don't think my copy is this same ed. Brought home to re-read.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not to discount a man whose survival and bravery during WWII combat/capture are almost supernaturally sustained, but if you're looking for a more gritty Papillon" personality, look elsewhere. Thomas writes of his lengthy ordeal escaping into Turkey from POW status in Greece with great detail, but too often the heroics are told as if it's a boy's adventure novel. There's even a hinted romance with a Greek farm girl, and the escapes themselves are so cinematic, you expect the soundtrack from "The Great Escape" to kick in. A hero's incredible adventure is what you get here, with plenty of daredevil first-person reporting of numerous near-death encounters. But at the same time, the guy carries a special kind of courage that suggests a suicidal bent. In understanding that escape was duty, Thomas takes to it--even with a horrible injury--in a way that demonstrates that his fellow injured comrades in the Greek hospitals were not in his league. The book later invites some vulnerability in, not to mention the dreadful final chapters are devoted to stealing boats and other desperate measures. I've read too much 3rd person nonfiction to enjoy Thomas's more autobiographical exploits. At least it's not like reading Tony Curtis talk about his Hollywood career.

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently spent two weeks doing volunteer work in Mt. Athos, clearing the trails that pilgrims use between the various monasteries, and took this book with me to read. And what a read! The author was a POW in Greece, severely wounded during the ill-fated defence of Crete during WW2, who escaped from hospital and made his way to Mt. Athos on the advice of a helpful Greek businessman he encountered. He does a magnificent job bringing the story of his intrepid escape to life, and it was especially wonderful reading about the Mt. Athos escapades while actually living and working there in two of the monasteries. Thomas is no slouch as a writer too, and knows how to tell a story.

[weateallthepies · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read of 2021 and my favourite for some time.

Simply told but just an incredible wartime escape story that's been more interesting than some novels I've read the last few years.

[Russell R · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Kathy O’GORMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, such courage and resilience! Very inspiring! A must read!

[Rachel Fewkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked this book up from my dad’s shelf, I had no idea how much I’d love it. When I started it, I wasn’t a big fan of non-fiction in general. Dare to be Free was most definitely the turning point for me.

If you’re a lover of history, especially the World Wars, this memoir is for you. Thomas has such a unique story with crazy twists and turns. His life or death situations had me gripping the edge of my seat (or rather the pages) with white knuckles. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good story with real people.

[Huw Collingbourne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing real-life story of a man's escape from Nazi-occupied Greece. Thomas is not, I think, such a naturally entertaining writer as Pat Reid (The Colditz Story) and some chapters flagged a bit. All the same, this is a truly extraordinary story. If it weren't true, it would be hard to suspend disbelief!

[Troy Hill]

Excellent narrative!

Excellent! Had this been written in Greek, I'd have considered it to have been a Homeric ballad. Lt. thomas has crafted a wry and (in good British fashion) witty narrative of his tribulations. His use of characterization combined with select sensory detail make his scenes come alive, yet remain unburden some in the smooth flow of insight and action.

[Denyse Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book about a New Zealand soldier who was captured in Crete. He humbling tells of what happened while fighting against Germans on Island of Crete. Then his journey after he was wounded badly and what happened in months ahead. An amazing humble, brave New Zealand soldier.

[Erik Empson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This being the second POW escape story I've read recently, may be my subsconscious mind is trying to tell me something.
An enjoyable account of reckless adventures on Crete and Greece, with some insight into the wartime occupation.

[Roger Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Hard to put down once you start.

[Stuart Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's great. Read it!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Stefanos V · Rating 3 out of 5]

The impossible odyssey of a NZ soldier in WWII Greece...