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| 'Great Escape' war veteran dies | 'Great Escape' war veteran dies |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A World War II veteran who took part in the prison camp breakout immortalised in the film The Great Escape has died. | A World War II veteran who took part in the prison camp breakout immortalised in the film The Great Escape has died. |
| Bertram "Jimmy" James, 92, of Ludlow, Shropshire, died on Friday at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. | |
| Sqn Ldr James was one of 76 men who escaped from a Nazi prison camp in 1944 in Poland, which was remembered in the 1963 film starring Steve McQueen. | Sqn Ldr James was one of 76 men who escaped from a Nazi prison camp in 1944 in Poland, which was remembered in the 1963 film starring Steve McQueen. |
| Military historian Howard Tuck said the ex-RAF Squadron Leader had been "the country's greatest living war hero". | Military historian Howard Tuck said the ex-RAF Squadron Leader had been "the country's greatest living war hero". |
| Sqn Ldr James took part in 13 escape attempts from prisoner camps during the war and witnessed a number of horrific acts of brutality, Mr Tuck said. | Sqn Ldr James took part in 13 escape attempts from prisoner camps during the war and witnessed a number of horrific acts of brutality, Mr Tuck said. |
| The veteran retired from the RAF in 1954. He leaves a wife, Madge. | The veteran retired from the RAF in 1954. He leaves a wife, Madge. |