‘Great Escaper’ Jimmy James is laid to rest

THE funeral of an RAF veteran, who took part in the World War Two prison camp breakout immortalised in the film The Great Escape, took place yesterday.

Squadron leader Jimmy James, of Ludlow, Shropshire, died aged 92 at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital after a short illness.

Father Jim Robinson led the service at St Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Ludlow, Shropshire.

David Blakeway Smith, who had known Sqn Ldr James for 30 years, paid tribute to his friend’s bravery.

He said: “Jimmy is the only real life hero and the single most remarkable person I have ever met.”

He said when he went to collect his late friend’s death certificate, he told the registrar that it should list his occupation as “escaper”.

“The idea of escape dominated the whole five years of his captivity.”

Sqn Ldr James became well-known after his attempt to dig a tunnel out of a Nazi prison camp in Poland was recreated in the 1963 film starring Steve McQueen.

He was one of 76 men to escape from Stalag Luft III on March 24, 1944, 50 of whom were executed after they were caught. Only three men successfully made their way to freedom.

After his recapture, he was interrogated and sent to Sachenhausen concentration camp, near Berlin, from which he made another escape bid, only to be caught again days later.

With military standards at the front of the church and the coffin draped with the Union Jack, Mr Blakeway Smith told the congregation that Sqn Ldr James madea total of 13 escape attempts altogether.

He said: “When asked why, he replied of course, ‘It’s my duty as an officer to escape and continue the war’.”

After the war, Sqn Ldr James “wondered why he’d survived, why so many of his good friends had died and he hadn’t.” But the veteran found “new purpose in life” by giving talks to schools, squadrons and other groups about his and his comrades’ experiences.

“Now he could start talking and telling others about their bravery, their courage.”

The congregation also heard of Sqn Ldr James’s life as a husband and church-goer. Father Jim said: “He was devoted to Madge, his wife of more than 60 years.

“He was tireless in explaining to the young the evils of Nazism and the horrors they perpetrated.”

As mourners left the church, the theme music of The Great Escape was played.