The family of Lt Col Hugo de Burgh, who was British commanding officer at Fontanellato PoW camp, is planning an expedition to recreate Hugo's courageous escape over the Alps and into Switzerland.

The chief organiser is Hugo’s grandson, Christopher Woodhead. The expedition will take place in 2013, the 70^th anniversary of the perilous climb by Hugo and a brother officer over Monte Rosa and down to Zermatt. Hugo’s own account of their journey – they were dressed in light summer suits and crossing glaciers in late September –  was published in Blackwood’s Magazine in 1945. It can be read on this website, by clicking on Escape Stories on the Front Page. An amended version of the story is also carried in the book Home By Christmas?.

Christopher is looking to hear from anyone who might like to join him on the climb, or be involved in the expedition, or help in other ways. He intends to tackle the ascent in the first week of September 2013, as the mountain huts close by mid-September.

He says: “The climbing will not be technically difficult but will require a good level of fitness. We will probably need a guide per four climbers - they will provide ropes, ice axes and crampons. The whole exercise should take the inside of a week (with very early starts in the mountains).”

The plan is to travel up from Fontanellato, which is near Parma, to Champoluc, now a skiing resort in the Valle d’Ayas, within the Monte Rosa complex. The group will stay, as Hugo did, in the Hotel Briethorn. From Champoluc, the climbers will ascend to the Citta` di Mantova rifugio, where they will stay the night, and the following day go over the Colle Del Lys (4,200m) and descend down the Grenz glacier into Zermatt.

“This will follow as closely as is possible the route taken, although it is difficult from the story to work it out exactly,” says Christopher.

Christopher, who is a publisher and who will be 55 when he does the climb, claims to have no head for heights but has, however, climbed several 4,000m peaks in the Alps. He says he is also hoping to make contact with Italians who might have some connection with his grandfather’s escape – perhaps sons or grandsons of the guides who helped Hugo and his companion, his staff officer Captain Reggie Phillips.

So far, about 12 family members have indicated that they might like to do the climb and several more are planning to go by car from Champoluc to Zermatt. This party may be led by Hugo’s son, Professor Hugo de Burgh. 

The main costs will be the guides, the hotel Briethorn and travel to Italy and back from Switzerland.

Anyone interested in hearing more should contact Christopher directly by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or through an email to the Trust’s website.