On the night of 15th December 1945, 80 years ago today, the Isle of Wight was thrown into panic as a convicted felon vanished into the winter dark.
The man at the centre of the alarm was 22-year-old Desmond Hare of London, a dangerous prisoner serving time at Camp Hill for housebreaking, possession of a service rifle with intent to endanger life and the attempted murder of a police officer. While on a working party at Roslin Farm near Chillerton, he took advantage of a brief opportunity and slipped away.
For several hours, nothing was known of his movements. But at first light the following morning, a disturbing discovery was made at East Appleford Farm Cottage near Godshill. Its occupant, Mr Ringer, woke to find a window smashed inward. He recalled hearing a noise during the night but had dismissed it as the wind sweeping across the downs. Instead, Hare had forced his way inside.
On the kitchen table lay a neatly folded suit of grey prison clothing. In their place, Hare had taken Ringer’s overcoat, jacket, shirt and Wellington boots. More troubling was the disappearance of a double-barrelled shotgun and 60 cartridges. From the larder, four loaves of bread, butter and two pots of jam had vanished.
The situation had escalated sharply. Hare was now armed, equipped and dressed for travel – and, as police feared, desperate.
At 21:30 that evening, reports began to reach officers from Chillerton. Villagers had seen a strange man carrying a gun walking through the settlement and heading towards Newport. Curtains were pulled closed, doors locked and the village settled into an anxious quiet as night drew in.
PC King and PC Sampson were sent to investigate. Driving along the roadway, their headlights illuminated a lone figure ahead, clearly carrying a shotgun. They were convinced it was Hare. But they were unarmed – and Hare, with a violent past and a newly stolen weapon, posed a grave threat if confronted directly.
They continued past him without slowing, careful not to betray their suspicions. Once safely ahead, they pulled off the road, concealed themselves in a hedge and prepared an ambush that might give them the single advantage they needed: surprise.
Hare walked on, unaware of the officers’ presence. Between the entrance to Gatcombe Manor and the lane leading to Gatcombe Mill, he reached their hiding place.
In a sudden burst of movement, PC Sampson sprang from the hedge, colliding with Hare and knocking him off balance. As the fugitive fell, Sampson grabbed for the shotgun. PC King immediately joined the struggle, forcing Hare to the ground while Sampson wrested the weapon free. When examined, both barrels were found to be fully loaded.
Hare was secured in handcuffs within moments. The day-long island-wide search had come to its abrupt conclusion.
He was dressed in the clothing stolen from East Appleford, confirming the route he had taken during his escape. During questioning, Hare insisted he never intended to fire the shotgun, saying it was only to frighten anyone who attempted to stop him. As for the reason behind his escape, he told officers that he had simply become “browned off” with Camp Hill.
Eighty years ago today, the Isle of Wight witnessed one of its most dramatic post-war manhunts – an armed fugitive moving under cover of darkness, a village fearful behind locked doors and two unarmed policemen whose quick judgement and decisive action ended the chase without bloodshed.
I hope those brave police officers received some kind of recognition.