History has lost another link to the story of The Great Escape. I spoke with Noreen Hawtin in Beaverton, Ont., today. She explained that her husband (of 66 years) Art Hawtin died peacefully Dec. 9, at age 92. Art grew up the fifth of six children on a farm near Kinmount, Ont. He did his share of farm chores, but loved baseball (he owned an original Babe Ruth baseball card) most of all (in photo Art is crouching at left end). In 1941, he enlisted in air force, served as a navigator in RCAF No. 405 Sqn. and was shot down and captured May 13, 1943. He served the escape committee as a penguin, but remembered most vividly the baseball tournament in which the Canadian All-Star Baseball Team defeated Team USA thanks to a kriegie the Americans didnt realize was in the Cdn roster - Bill Paton (the best fastball pitcher in Torontos Beaches League). Art noted in his diary that the Kommandant allowed the tourney with a provision that opportunity will be given under supervision of an interpreter to collect (base)balls from between the warning wire and the fence. POWs must furnish a man to collect balls. He must wear some mark which will be easily seen and readily distinguishable at a distance by the guards. Not a rule Abner Doubleday might ever have considered. Rest in peace Art Hawtin. They also serve who fight from behind the wire.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 15:05:22 +0000
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