In The News

Veteran of Great Escape passes away

Veteran of Great Escape passes away

Jack Harrison, who was the last survivor of the “Great Escape’ from a German prisoner of war camp, has died. He was 97.

The escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944 was immortalised in the film The Great Escape (1963).

Mr. Harrison, who served as an RAF pilot in the war, was sent to the camp after being shot down in Holland in 1942. 

The tunnel escape plan had involved 200 prisoners. Mr. Harrison had been 98th. in line to go through the tunnel when the German guards discovered the escape. He was forced to burn his forged papers (he was to have posed as a civil engineer) and change back into his uniform.

Of the 76 prisoners who had managed to escape, only three reached safety. The remainder were recaptured with fifty of them being murdered by the Germans.

After the war Mr. Harrison returned to his wife in Glasgow and resumed his teaching career. He went on to become director of education on the Isle of Bute.

He remained active in the community for many years, taking up marathon running while in his 70s to raise money for charity.

 

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