Search the Collection

Eric Ernest Williams

(1911-1983), Airman and writer

Sitter in 1 portrait
As an airman in World War II, Williams was shot down over Germany where he was captured and imprisoned at Stalag-Luft III. In 1943, he escaped through a tunnel using a vaulting-horse as a decoy, and returned to Britain disguised as a French workman. His account of his escape, The Wooden Horse (1949), had sold over four million copies and the film adaptation (1950) is a classic war film. He continued to write and spent the rest of his life travelling the world on his boat, Escaper.

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Make a donation Close

List Thumbnail

Eric Ernest Williams, by Sir Stanley Spencer - NPG 6469

Eric Ernest Williams

by Sir Stanley Spencer
pencil, 1954
NPG 6469

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.