The POW escape you’ve never heard of

Born on September 28, 1789, Charles Hare began his career in the Royal Navy at the age of 11. It was not unusual for boys to go to sea during this period as it meant they could complete their education before the age of 20 – the minimum age required. to become a naval officer.

However, in 1801 – the same year Charles joined the Navy – his father died. As the eldest son, Charles became responsible for supporting his mother and younger siblings.

Two years later, with Britain at war with Napoleon’s France, another disaster struck. Haas’s ship La Minerve was captured off the coast of France.

The officers and crew, including Hare, now 13, were marched hundreds of miles overland from Cherbourg to Verdun, a walled city that served as a prisoner of war depot. Hare remained in Verdun until the end of 1806 and was then transferred to Sarre Libre (modern Saarlouis in Germany), where he spent a further two and a half years in captivity.

“At the time, Hare was 19 years old, had spent most of his childhood in prison and had not seen his family for more than six years,” said Katherine Gazzard, art curator at Royal Museums Greenwich. “He might have remained in prison for many more years if he had not staged a daring escape.”