Bill Fordyce Makes His Great Escape
I remember when I was at school, hearing stories of The Battle Of Britain, The Great Escape, Pearl Harbor and the heroism of those involved.
Of course, as a child, and even later, I could never grasp the pain caused to the people involved, and how long it could last.
I saw the adventure, and was often times inspired by the ingenuity of these people, especially in the story of the Great Escape.
On February 12 2008, the last Australian survivor of that escape, Bill Fordyce passed away.
Left: Bill Fordyce in 1942!
I saw the report on the news, and I heard part of the eulogy of this man when it was broadcast.
I heard it, and it burned its way into my mind.
As a matter of fact, I have been thinking about it on and off since.
Bill Fordyce was a real, boys own, original hero.
His wartime experiences included his ship striking an iceberg, being stalked by U-boats, as well as being shot down and strafed in the Mediterranean by a Messerschmitt Me-109.
He was bombed by the RAF and had his own escape from the Gestapo.
After the war Bill Fordyce became a commercial airline pilot, as well as becoming a marketing manager for different companies.
He was also involved in a number of charitable activities.
From the Sydney Morning Herald – Link to original article and biography..
Horace Spencer Wills Fordyce died at age 93.
The “The Great Escape” came from a plan hatched by Roger Bushell to dig three tunnels to escape from Stalag Luft III.
The story of the escape was eventually made into a movie in 1963 starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough and James Garner.
What strikes me about Bill Fordyce is his humility, which can be seen from the transcript of an interview that he did with George Negus in 2003.
And the eulogy that got me thinking?
When he was on the operating table, decades later, he apparently turned to the surgeon and said “…while you have my heart in your hands, could you please take out the unforgiveness and bitterness…?”
A war hero, who had survived one of the most horrific wars that mankind has seen, and built a successful life afterwards still carried the scars on the inside.
Unforgiveness and bitterness can twist and distort if we allow it to fester.
Choosing to forgive can be a hard, and painful decision to make, and the process can be painful as well.
Of course, we can choose not to release the past, and allow things to fester, and recite wrongs done to us at every opportunity.
I believe that if we choose not to move on, that we are the ones that are bound and imprisoned – not the people who hurt us!
Here was one man who chose to forgive, even though a lot of the pain would have remained.
May we all have the will to do the same…
Are you prepared to forgive, and to try and forget?
Is it possible to forgive, and not forget?
I’d really love your feedback on this one!
Rest in peace with your mates Bill, you’ve set us some sort of an example!
Ange did a great piece on forgiveness and emotional development here!