Thomas Rodger, a Sales Supervisor from Glasgow, enlisted into the Royal Engineers Reserve on 30 January 1936. Called to the Colours on 30 August 1939. Attached to 3 Special Service Battalion on 11 November 1940. Attached No.7 Commando on 31 January 1941*. Prisoner of war on 1 June 1941 during Layforce operations at Crete. Mentioned in Despatches.

Rodger was take prisoner at Crete on the 1st June 1941 and imprisoned in camps in Italy and Germany. He first escaped from Crete on 1 June 1941 by rowing boat with three others but they were all recaptured at Gambut, Libya, by the Italians. Rodger escaped again this time from a military hospital in Derna and was recaptured at El Gazala 5 days later.

After an unsuccessful tunneling attempt Rodger and two others jumped from a train in Sept. 1943 while in transit to Germany but were eventually recaptured after two months liberty. He was liberated on 23 April 1945.