Tony Deane-Drummond facts for kids

Major-General Anthony John Deane-Drummond (born June 23, 1917 – died December 4, 2012) was a brave officer in the British Army. He was known for his amazing escapes during World War II. He also led special forces units and was a champion glider pilot.

Growing Up and Joining the Army

Anthony Deane-Drummond was born in Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England. His father was also a military officer. Anthony went to Marlborough College and then to the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. This is where future army officers are trained. He joined the army in 1937, becoming an officer in the Royal Corps of Signals. This unit is in charge of communications for the army.

Daring Escapes in World War II

During World War II, Deane-Drummond served in Europe and North Africa. He volunteered for a special commando unit.

First Capture and Escape

In February 1941, he was part of Operation Colossus. This was an airborne raid in southern Italy. Their mission was to destroy a large water pipe called an aqueduct. The mission was successful, but all the soldiers were captured by Italian forces.

Deane-Drummond was a prisoner of war. After several tries, he managed to escape in December 1941. He was caught again near the Swiss border. He was held in another prison camp for months. In May 1942, he was moved to a hospital in Florence. He escaped from there in June and made it to Switzerland. From there, he traveled to southern France. The Royal Navy picked him up in July 1942 and brought him back to England. He received the Military Cross medal for his incredible escape.

The Arnhem Escape

After returning to England, Deane-Drummond joined the 1st Airborne Division. This division used parachutes and gliders to drop soldiers behind enemy lines. He took part in Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. This was a huge plan to capture bridges in the Netherlands.

During the battle at Arnhem, he became separated from his unit. He and three other soldiers were trapped for three days in a house occupied by German soldiers. When they finally left, they tried to cross the Rhine River. Deane-Drummond swam to the south bank but was captured almost immediately.

The very next day, he escaped again! He hid inside a large cupboard for eleven days until it was safe to move. After leaving his hiding place, he found the Dutch Resistance, a secret group fighting the Germans. They helped him get back to British lines. He received a special mention for his bravery and another bar for his Military Cross. This meant he had earned the medal twice.

Leading Special Forces and Beyond

After the war, Deane-Drummond continued his military career. He attended Staff College, where officers learn advanced military planning.

Commander of the SAS

In 1957, he took command of the 22 Special Air Service Regiment, also known as the SAS. The SAS is a famous special forces unit known for its tough training and dangerous missions. He led the SAS during the Malayan Emergency, a conflict in Malaysia. He also led them in Oman.

In January 1959, his regiment successfully attacked a mountain called Jebel Akhdar. This was a very difficult operation. Because of the SAS's amazing success under his leadership, the army decided not to disband the unit. He received the Distinguished Service Order medal for his leadership.

Later Army Roles

In 1961, Deane-Drummond was promoted to command the 44th Parachute Brigade. He later became the Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff for Operations in 1968. This was a very important role in the British military. He retired from the army in 1971.

Life Outside the Army

Deane-Drummond had many interests outside of his military career.

A Champion Glider Pilot

He loved gliding, which is flying in an aircraft without an engine. He was also a gliding instructor. He helped create one of the world's largest gliding clubs at Lasham Airfield. He was so good that he became the British National Gliding Champion in 1957. He also represented Britain in the World Gliding Championships several times.

Family and Hobbies

He wrote three books, including his autobiography. He also enjoyed restoring old furniture as a hobby. In 1944, he married Mary Evangeline Boyd. They had four daughters together.