'Bush' Parker

‘BUSH’ PARKER An Australian Battle of Britain Pilot In Colditz

Colin Burgess

Australian Military History Publications, 2007, 87pp

Vincent Parker (born Wheatley in County Durham, England) took the name of the uncle and aunt who adopted him, his birth parents being unable to care for him.  At age nine he moved to Australia, where his adoptive father worked for Queensland Railways, around Townsville.

His years in Australia were marked by development of skills at sleight of hand and mesmerism.  These attracted the attention of the illusionist The Great Levante (Leslie Cole), who recruited Parker to his troupe.

Parker moved to England in 1938, and joined the RAF in 1939, receiving the nickname ‘Bush’.  However, the skills gained in his formative years probably caused the Germans more trouble than his three months of operational flying, which seem to have involved only one clash with the Luftwaffe.  As a result of that clash, he bailed out over the Channel, and was rescued by the Germans. He spent the remainder of the war in prison camps, including a short period at Sagan, scene of the Wooden Horse episode and the Great Escape, and three years in Colditz.

Parker’s skills with his hands enabled him to become the Colditz lock-picker.  Between escape attempts he opened doors into prohibited parts of the prison, distilled illicit booze, and amused his comrades with card tricks.

After being liberated Parker sought to return to operational flying, and was killed in an aircraft accident early in 1946.

JOHN DONOVAN