Posted on 06/07/2010 8:28:33 PM PDT by naturalman1975
In the end, it was only time from which he could not escape. Jack Harrison, the last of those involved in the 'Great Escape', has passed away, peacefully and quietly, at the age of 97.
It has been 66 years since the dark night when he waited with bated breath, preparing to crawl through ‘Harry’ and under the wire of Stalag Luft III.
Many years after the war the former RAF pilot, and his brave and resourceful comrades, would be immortalised by the iconic 1963 film - starring Richard Attenborough and Steve McQueen - which remains the staple fare of every Christmas Day celebration.
But, by then, the most audacious - and tragic - prisoner-of-war break out of the Second World War was only a memory to the Scots veteran, who had long since returned to his ‘real life’ as a husband, father and classics teacher.
Mr Harrison would go on to live a long and fruitful life, spending the last two-and-a-half years of it in the veterans' hospital at Erskine, in Bishopton, Renfrewshire.
Yesterday a spokesman for the charity that runs the hospital said: ‘It is with the greatest of sadness that we announce the passing of Great Escape veteran Jack Harrison.
‘Mr Harrison, thought to be the last survivor of the escape, passed away with his son, Chris, and daughter, Jane, by his side.’
The success of the film The Great Escape may have elevated the humble Latin teacher to the status of a war hero. But to his family, he will forever be ‘dad’. In a joint statement yesterday, his two children paid tribute to him.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
It’s dark blue and I am not sure about the author. We moved recently and I’ll have to find the book. But I will get back to you!
I did a search and it looks like it’s about the Women’s Air Force. They were the pilots who ferried the planes from factories to military air fields during WWII. I know one of them but she has recently moved to Medford Oregon...
The book I have was probably from a POW Convention. My dad used to attend these functions in the 60-70’s. I remember one of the meetings in Dayton, Ohio, that the ‘ferret’ attended. I will find the book and let you know the details.
Thanks, that’s now on my list of books to read, and above a lot of less interesting things.
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