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Lieutenant Peter Butterworth, who was a prisoner of war, played a vital role in passing coded messages back to British intelligence in apparently innocent letters to home. He was also closely involved in organizing the famous Great Escape from Stalag Luft III 1. Although he was supposed to have been the last man in the tunnel, he ended up staying behind when 76 airmen famously escaped the Nazi POW camp on March 24, 1944 1.
Researchers who uncovered new details of his Second World War exploits in the National Archives believe he may have remained in the camp to carry on his vital coding work 1.
Lieutenant Butterworth’s wartime contributions were not widely known until recently. His story is a testament to the bravery and ingenuity of those who fought in the Second World War.
