‘Great Escape’ survivor War II passes away

The getaway was the topic of a 1963 Hollywood film, The Great Escape. Royle expired following operation on a hip fracture at a Perth hospital on Sunday he suffered in a fall his son Gordon Royle said.

Royle shown a year ago in March 1944 on the 70th anniversary of the tunnel getaway that he was no lover of the Hollywood interpretation of the narrative. “The film I disliked intensely because there have been no motorbikes … as well as the Americans were not there,” he said, referring to McQueen’s spectacular play to outrun the Germans on a motorbike. He also said that he failed to regard himself as exceptional due to his part in the episode that was infamous. “Oh, I do not believe so. A lot of individuals have amazing lives when they think of it,” he said.

Just three of a Dane, two Norwegians as well as the escapees made it . When captured fifty others, from 12 countries, were shot dead. A further 23 were sent back to other camps or to the Stalag but survived the war. Royle said his contribution to the getaway operation was to spread soil excavated in the 110-meter tunnel across the camp grounds. This is done by discharging the land in places where the earth colour vaguely fit down his trouser legs.

British troops liberated him on May 2, 1945 in the Marlag und Milag Nord prison camp in Germany. He’s survived their two kids by his second wife Pamela Yvonne Royle as well as a sister. He’s also survived by three British kids from his first marriage. He’d eight grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.