The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. R G Ker-Ramsay

Robert Gerald Ker-Ramsay was born on 25th September 1916 and educated at St. Pauls School, Kensington.

He joined the RAF on a short service commission in August 1935. He was posted to 5 FTS Sealand on 19th October and joined 17 Squadron at Kenley on 28th June 1936. He moved to the staff of the Home Aircraft Depot Henlow on 11th February 1937 and then joined the staff at 8 FTS Montrose on 30th May 1938.

Above images courtesy of Robert Ker-Ramsay.

In early July 1940 Ker-Ramsay was serving with 25 Squadron at Martlesham Heath. He was attached to the FIU at Shoreham on the 12th.

He was the captain of a Blenheim which failed to return from an operational patrol on the night of 13th September. Ker-Ramsay and his crew, Sgt. G Dixon and Sgt. EL Byrne, baled out and were captured. The Blenheim, Z5721, crashed into the Channel off Calais.

In 1941 Ker-Ramsay was on the Escape Committee at Stalag Luft 1 and worked on two tunnels, both were discovered before completion. During his time at the camp he is said to have worked on more than 100 tunnels.

Transferred to Stalag Luft III, he worked on the three simultaneous tunnels, Tom, Dick and Harry. He organised and controlled the exit during the mass breakout in March 1944 and unselfishly sacrificed his own escape. In April he was appointed Camp Security Officer and it was largely through his efforts that the camp had a reliable news service.

Above: at Stalag Luft 3, Ker-Ramsay on left, other airman unknown.

On 4th February 1945 Ker-Ramsay was one of some 3,000 men evacuated from Stalag Luft III and sent to the Merchant Navy camp, Marlag-Milag, at Westertimke. He set up and ran the camp radio there until liberation in April 1945.

Ker-Ramsay was made an MBE (gazetted 28th June 1946) for services as a PoW. He retired from the RAF in 1948 as a Squadron Leader.

He died in March 1981 in Petersfield, Hampshire.