The Madness of Courage The Exceptional Achievements of Gilbert Insall
By Tony Insall
Group Captain Gilbert Insall holds a unique record: he is the only person to have both won a Victoria Cross and escaped successfully from a German prisoner of war camp during the First World War. The Madness of Courage describes how, when forced down by engine damage after destroying a German fighter, Gilbert ignored intensive shelling in order to repair his aircraft and return to base. But a few weeks later, he was shot down and captured. And thus began a distinguished career in prison breaking.
He tunnelled out of Heidelberg prison camp and later hid among boxes on a horse-drawn cart to get away from Crefeld, each time being recaptured. Then, in Ströhen, Gilbert and several companions concealed themselves in a claustrophobically small space they had excavated under the floor of the bathhouse. They remained there for seventeen hours, while a fruitless search for them was carried out, and eventually emerged and successfully reached Holland.
Meticulously told by Gilbert’s great-nephew, the critically acclaimed intelligence historian Tony Insall, The Madness of Courage is a gripping true story about a remarkable man at a time before the Geneva Convention was signed, when conditions for prisoners of war were often appalling and the British War Office did little to help prisoners escape. Instead, Gilbert’s family, assisted by French intelligence, gave him the support he needed to break out of captivity in an extraordinary feat of bravery, resilience and ingenuity.
Reviews
“Tony Insall’s masterful and eminently readable book is more than a historical account; it offers us all a source of inspiration.”
Air Marshal Sir Christopher Harper, former director general of the NATO International Military Staff
“This is not just a fascinating account of an extraordinarily brave man and his determination to return to active duty; it is a groundbreaking account of prisoner of war escapes during the First World War.”
Michael Smith, author of The Secrets of Station X
“This is a most extraordinary story. The intensity of Gilbert Insall’s courage – or madness – is impossible to exaggerate. His story reads like a relentless thriller. I had no idea that such events had happened or were even possible.”
Michael Dobbs, bestselling author of House of Cards
“This book makes an important contribution to intelligence and military history while telling the exciting story of the courageous exploits of Gilbert Insall and his attempts, ultimately successful, to escape from German prison camps during the First World War. It reveals fascinating new details of the ingenuity displayed both by individuals and by intelligence organisations still taking early shape in providing information and practical help to prisoners and their families.”
Gill Bennett, intelligence historian
“This vivid and insightful book sheds new light on the First World War through the story of a remarkable character.”
Gordon Corera, BBC correspondent
“The first, pathbreaking and brilliantly researched biography of the only man ever to have both won the Victoria Cross and escaped from a German prisoner of war camp in the First World War.”
Professor Christopher Andrew, former official historian of MI5 and honorary air commodore of 7006 Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force
“A fascinating, inspiring true account of gallantry over the French battlefields and under a prisoner of war camp in an era of selfless courage.”
Nigel West, intelligence historian
“[An] amazing story of an incredible man and his impressive siblings, as told by his critically-acclaimed intelligence historian great-nephew.”
Tracey Allen, RAF News
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- Hardback, 352 pages
- ISBN: 9781785908682
- 9 January 2025
- £25.00
- eBook
- ISBN: 9781785909597
- 9 January 2025
- £19.99