Lt. Gen. Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart: The Unkillable Soldier

Shot 27 times, lost an arm, an eye, survived 2 plane crashes, escaped from POW camp twice

(As I write this I can scarcely believe what I am reading.) Lt. General Adrian was a soldier for the British Empire who fought in 6 Major wars, was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, lost part of his ear, blinded in his eye and survived two plane crashes, tunneled out of a POW camp and tore off two of his fingers when a doctor refused to amputate them. Born to Belgian/ Irish parents, he remained a Belgian citizen for several of his wars until becoming a British citizen. His father sent him to law school but he enlisted in the British Army at 20 instead, where he was sent to Africa in the Second Boer War. He lost his eye in a War against the Somali in Africa when shot in the face. By the time WW1 started he had already developed a reputation as a man who “ate fire”. In every action he actively participated and was seen grabbing grenade pins out with his teeth and throwing them with his one good arm. When WW2 began he was already in Poland when the fighting began and from then on he was sent to various theaters ending up in being captured in Italy in 1943. He remained a key figure during the post war period as well, especially in China. He eventually retired to Ireland and at age 83 died in 1963. His memoirs are in the book “Happy Odyssey”. I will post in the comments all the awards and medals he earned as it is extensive. I will be putting a picture of Adrian on my wall to remind me Valor cannot be stopped.

Valor is in you. Set it free.