Magic at War

In another escape-themed blog, I look at the wartime exploits of Vincent 'Bush' Parker. A schoolboy magician and former assistant to an illusionist, Parker was a Battle of Britain pilot. After getting shot down over the English Channel and taken captive, he became a prisoner-of-war in Germany. A persistent and audacious escaper, Parker spent time in various POW camps, until he ended up in Oflag IVC, Colditz. There, his magic skills boosted morale and played a key role in many escape attempts. See my blog, 'Never in the field of human conflict...": a magician is one of the few' , to read more about 'Bush' Parker's background as a magician and his time with the R.A.F. before he was captured. 'In the bag' Prime Minister Winston Churchill described the 15 August 1940 as  "one of the greatest days in history" ,  as it proved to be the most decisive day in the Battle of Britain. Unfortunately, for  Pilot Officer Vincent Parker, it  was also ...

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few..." By mid-1940, German forces had occupied much of Eastern Europe, Denmark, Norway, France and the Low Countries, leaving Britain and her empire standing alone to defeat the Nazi menace.  In July, Hitler ordered the preparation of Operation Sea Lion, the invasion of Great Britain.  The period that followed, through to October 1940, became known as the Battle of Britain. It was fought in the skies, as the Luftwaffe (German air force) launched a stream of deadly raids, day and night, to compel Britain to agree to a negotiated peace settlement. The Luftwaffe first aimed to destroy Britain's airfields. As the battle progressed, it also targeted factories involved in aircraft production and strategic infrastructure. The Nazis wanted to gain air superiority over the Channel, to allow an amphibious and airborne assault. Leading the defence of the United Kingdom, were the airmen and aircraft of the ...

"I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any." This blog article, published on 19th March 2021, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of British comedy magic legend, Tommy Cooper.   As you might expect, I'm going to focus on Tommy's wartime experiences, including the story of how he picked up his trademark fez. Update (1 October 2026): I've recently obtained Tommy's military service record. This provides additional information and some corrections which will be incorporated into the article shortly. In the interim, I've added an image of a poster for one of Tommy's shows in the Middle East (see below). Early years Thomas Frederick Cooper (1921-1984)  was born in Caerphilly, Wales. His family moved to Exeter,  Devon  when he was three. A t the age of eight, an aunt bought Tommy a magic set and he would spend hours perfecting all the tricks.  After finishing school, Cooper left the family home to become an app...

Celebrated New York magician and World War Two veteran, Sol Stone, sadly passed away in early March 2021, aged 98.  In his honour, this special blog recounts Stone's wartime service, including his narrow escape from becoming a prisoner-of-war and the moment - in the midst of war - when he discovered the power of magic to bring wonder to people's lives. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1922, Stone first became hooked on magic when he was seven years old. His father took him to see  master illusionist Howard Thurston. The show made a strong impression on Stone. After, he would spend hours in Brooklyn libraries looking for books on magic. He built up a small act and took part in magic contests and school shows. Growing up during the Great Depression, performing magic helped Stone fund his college studies. Sol Stone with a dove production (c1930s) (Source: Sol Stone) In 1942, aged nineteen, Stone enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Corps. He joined  the 739th Squadron, 454th Bombard...