Great escape: WWII veteran goes missing from care home for D-Day trip

A 90-year-old war veteran found in Normandy after being reported missing from his care home in England has said he intends to return next year as he arrived back in the UK.

Bernard Jordan was reported missing on Thursday night by staff at The Pines care home in Hove, Sussex, after embarking on his cross-channel trip for the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

Arriving at Portsmouth on the Brittany Ferries ship Normandie, he said when asked if he had enjoyed his trip: “I had a great time. I’m really pleased I did it.

“It was good, it gets even better as it goes on.”

To mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we wanted to share this incredible 'then and now' photo of Bernard #Hove #DDay pic.twitter.com/pQrc1FnXFY

— Gracewell Healthcare (@GracewellHealth) June 6, 2014

The former navy officer said that he would have to face the music when he returned to the home.

He said: “Yeah, I’m going to have to face that but it’s just one of those things.”

Mr Jordan said that his wife knew about his trip and when asked if he would go back next year, he said: “Yes, I expect so, if I am still here definitely.”

A spokesman for the ferry company added: “We took him under our wing, he’s a lovely, lovely guy, when he came off the crew all clapped him.”

He said that Mr Jordan met a group of singers called the Candy Girls during the crossing to France and added: “He’s got a lot of charm with the ladies but I understand he has a wife.”

Earlier Mr Jordan told ITV that he hoped he would not be in trouble when he returned.

He told the broadcaster: “Because I wanted to go to this show here that was on today, that was the main reason I came over here.

“It’s a first class show because I have been here last year and I have been here obviously this time and I’m going to – touch wood I’m still with us – and I will be 91 then, but if I am still about I shall try next year’s as well.”

Asked if he would be in trouble with the care home he added: “I might be, but I hope not.”

Mr Jordan, a former mayor of Hove, left The Pines on Thursday morning wearing a grey mac and a jacket underneath with his war medals on, Sussex Police said.

Officers began searching the area, including checking hospitals in case something had happened to him, and spoke to bus and taxi companies, but none of them knew where he was.

The nursing home received a phone call from a younger veteran from Brighton at 10.30pm who said he had met Mr Jordan on a coach on the way to France and that they were safe and well in a hotel in Ouistreham.

Brittany Ferries said it had laid on a cabin, meals and a car back to the Pines.

Ship’s liaison officer Sonia Pittam, who met Mr Jordan on his outward journey to France, said: “I knew he was a game old boy.

“He certainly has his wits about him, he didn’t say much about the landings, just how pleased he was to be on board and couldn’t believe how everyone was looking after them (veterans) and all the people waving on the route to the harbour entrance.

“He kept saying, ’All this for us’.”

Sussex Police said they had spoken to Mr Jordan and would have a chat with him when he got home “to check he is OK”.

Susan Knowles, Mr Jordan’s niece, told Sky News that her uncle had a history of visiting events he was not expected at.

She said: “Last time I saw him would be at a family funeral that he made his way down to again, and we were all quite amazed that he’d made his way to Bournemouth to this family funeral, on the train, on his own.

“He sort of just came walking up and we were quite surprised to see him there, because of his age and that, we didn’t expect him to be there.

“If he’s determined to do something he will.”

A spokesman for the home said it was “definitely not the case” that the veteran was banned from attending the D-Day commemorations.

In a statement, the chief executive of the company which runs The Pines, said: “Mr Jordan has full capacity, which means that he can come and go from the home as he pleases, which he does on most days. At no stage was he banned from going to the commemorations.

“Mr Jordan was reported missing to the police yesterday evening as a matter of caution because he did not return from his normal trip to town and when he left had not told us he was still intent on trying to get to Normandy."

He was mayor of Hove from 1995 to 1996. The highlight of his working life was meeting Margaret Thatcher.

He still has a keen interest in politics and also loves supporting his favourite football team, Brighton and Hove Albion.

Mr Jordan arrived back at the home this morning.

Mr Curtis told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “He is back safely. The first thing he did was tuck in to an English breakfast and he was on excellent form.

“I think he was completely taken aback by the scale the story has taken on but he was on fine form.”

Describing him as “quite a character”, Mr Curtis added: “His wife is also with us at the home and when we told her where he was she just immediately said ’well I’m not surprised’.”