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Tribute to Joseph Bryks MBE

2016-03-18

Today two commemorative events will be held in honour of his 100th birthday anniversary.

The first one at two p.m. in front of 15 Hanackeho pluku St in Olomouc. Speeches are to be given by the Mayor and Mr Sehnal a member of the local Confederation of Political Prisoners. Then attendees will leave for the pilot´s native village of Lastany. The second plaque dedicated to Joe is on the local World Wars Victims Memorial. At 1529 hrs a flypast of the Czech AF´s two JAS 39 Grippen jets is to launch the second event. This one will be followed by two Exhibitions held at the local Sokol Sports Club House. One on Brig Joseph Bryks MNE and the second on BoB and Sgt. Joseph Frantisek DFM+Bar.

Serving with No 242 British Sqn P/O Joseph Bryks was downed by the Luftwaffe ace Major Adolf Galland on June 17, 1941.  While in captivity he fled with his escapee-mate Otakar Cerny five times and made a try twice more. The last one was in No III Stalag Luft Camp at Sagan. The mouth of the tunnnel had been found by the German guard prior to Joe´s turn in No 104 hut. More at www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gt_esc/

In 1946 the British shot the "The Captive Heart" film inspired by Joe´s escapades. He was awarded MBE. At midnight of May 2, 1948 was Joseph Bryks arrested by the Stecret Police in his flat in Olomouc. He and Otakar Cerny faced a pent-up trial against a group of RAF men lead by A/M Karel Janousek KCB. Joseph Bryks died of heart attack at a sick bay of the Rovnost uranium ore nr Ostrov upon Ohre on Aug 12, 1957.

On June 4, 1994 a plaque dedicated to Joseph Bryks was added to the World Wars Memorial at his native village of Lastany - www. vets.vpm.cz/mista/obec/3881- belkovice-lastany/. On Apri 23, 1997 the Leczynski St at Prague Cerny most Borough was renamed Bryksova. Six years later was published the´Hope and Desparation´Book by Trudie Bryks his English wife. On June 2, 2005 she unveiled a memorial plaque on a wall of the house at 15 Hanackeho pluku St. Joe had been taken away from by the Secret Police  -  HERE

In 2007 a documentary ´A Man Who Overestimated Czech Soul´ was shot on Col Joseph Bryks MBE. Among the others as Trudie Bryks as Otakar Cerny and two inmates have their says - see at : www.ceskatelevize.cz/ivysilani/10122453122-muz-ktery-precenil-ceskou-dusi-aneb-uteky-josefa-brykse/  

On Oct 28, 2006 the White Lion Order was lent to Joseph Bryks. He was promoted to Brigadier two years later. On Mar 23, 2014 Joe´s nephew Mr Karel Bryks departed to Zagan on the occasion of the Great Escape 70. A commemorative event was held there for fifty Allied airmen who had been murdered by the Gestapo in March and April 1944.  Karel was there for three days.

Assistence of Karel Bryks and Vladimir Hrabal is much appreciated.