Tributes pour in for war hero

Tributes have been pouring in following the death of Jimmy James, Shropshire's most famous Second World War hero, whose exploits helped to inspire the Hollywood blockbuster The Great Escape.Mr James, 92, from Ludlow, was the county's most decorated war hero. His bid for freedom from the notorious Stalag Luft III camp in 1944 inspired the script for The Great Escape, the 1963 movie classic starring Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough. Mr James died on Friday.

The RAF Squadron leader is survived by his wife Madge, whom he married in 1946.

Today Councillor Heather Kidd, of South Shropshire District Council, said: "This is a sad day for the district. Jimmy James did so much and was so well known."

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said he was also sad to hear of Mr James's death.

Mr Dunne described Mr James as "a remarkable man, a true gentleman of great charm and dignity who had led as full and truly fascinating a life as anyone could hope for.

"His tales of incarceration as a PoW and numerous escape attempts made him a celebrity during the war.

"He never tired of telling younger generations about these days and did so with humility and great good humour.

"My sincere sympathies go to his wife Madge for whom he has been such a strong support."

Mr James was shot down and captured in 1940. In January 1944 he joined a group of inmates in Stalag Luft III planning what eventually became the Great Escape through a 365-foot tunnel nicknamed "Harry".

Mr James was one of 76 officers who escaped from Stalag Luft III on the night of March 24, 1944. Only three made it to freedom. Of the recaptured men, fifty were shot on Hitler's orders.

Mr James was sent to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, from which he also escaped, only to be recaptured after 14 days on the run.

Ron Breakwell, president of Cleobury Mortimer Royal British Legion, said: "He was a wonderful gentleman. I'm very sad to hear of his death but he had lived a very interesting life and was very active."

Mr James wrote his first book, Moonless Night, about his escape from a PoW camp.

He also wrote a second book, High Noon of Empire - The Diary of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Tyndall, which tells the story of an Indian army colonel who served from 1895 to 1915.

Military historian Howard Tuck, who was working on a new book with Mr James before his death, said: "The one thing people tend to focus on with him is his role in the Great Escape, but in fact he actually tried to escape 13 times from different camps and prisons during World War II.

"He was an incredible character, and a real gentleman."