Smugglers Way: Hugo de Burgh

Escape over Monte Rosa

In September 1943, Lt Col Hugo de Burgh, the British commanding officer at Fontanellato PoW camp, together with Capt Reggie Phillips, made a hazardous escape over Monte Rosa into Switzerland – an adventure that nearly cost them their lives. De Burgh wrote an account of their climb, guided by smugglers, that was published in 1945 by Blackwood’s magazine. It is reproduced here, by kind permission of Hugo de Burgh’s family.

Click here to read