This Is Your Life: Sam Derry

Lieutenant Colonel Sam DERRY DSO, MC, TD, DL (1914-1996)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Samuel Ironmonger Derry, soldier, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews outside the BBC Television Theatre.

Sam, from Newark, Nottinghamshire, was a member of the Royal Artillery during the Second World War – one of thousands who escaped at Dunkirk. He was subsequently transferred to North Africa, where as a major in the 1st Field Regiment, he was awarded the Military Cross, before being captured a second time in June 1942. Imprisoned at Chieti in the Abruzzo region of Italy, he led the escape committee, organising the construction of four tunnels ensuring freedom for many fellow prisoners.

His own second escape was made by jumping from a Rome bound train, en route to what would have been his final incarnation in a German prison camp. Sam ensured the passage to freedom of several thousands of British and American soldiers who were stranded in the Italian countryside after escaping from German captivity. Operating from within the Vatican itself, with the help of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, his Rome escape line became famous for defying German efforts to locate its source and destroy its organisation.

programme details...

Edition No: 215
Subject No: 216
Broadcast date: Tue 19 Feb 1963
Broadcast time: 7.55-8.25pm
Recorded: Mon 11 Feb 1963 8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 8
Edition: 20

on the guest list...

Ex-Sergeant Wren
Ex-Sergeant O’Neill
Ex-Gunner Wenn
Michael Denison
Capt Philip Gardner VC MC
Nancy – wife
Richard - son
William - son
Andrew - son
James – son
Clair – daughter
Lt Colonel John Furman MC
Bill Simpson
Norman Anderson
Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty CBE

production team...

Director: Vere Lorrimer
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Military Life

saluting the armed forces

Michael Denison

Photographs of Sam Derry This Is Your Life

Series 8 subjects