Triumphrat

Tbirdnz

One of the last links to the Great Escape, the WWII escape from a German POW camp has passed on. Well known as the film which helped make Steve McQueen famous riding his 'Triumph'.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/wo...orcycle&st=nyt


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Ride on !

Wombat

Sad but ironic, so soon after the passing of the other Great Escape icon, Bud Ekins.

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Bob

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Age is of no importance, unless you are a cheese.

miker

Just when you think you've led an interesting life, you read about someone like Jimmy. It all pales to insignificance reading what he went through, Thanks John, good post.

Mick

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"We may not be able to change the direction or strength of the wind, but we can always trim our sails"

HiDesert

He was in three concentration camps, and tunneled out of Sachsenhausen. He obvioulsy had an indomitable spirit. And lived to see the rise and fall of the Soviet empire, and the introduction of the internet and the cell phone. What a life.

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I won't stop riding because you tell me about someone who died in an accident, just as I won't stop eating because someone died of e.coli.

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Brooksie

With each passing WWII veteran, a great deal is lost. At least he was also able to share his story with us. Great stuff.

mistermellow001

Every human on the planet is a walking history book, no matter how old. When you think about it, every chance you get to talk to someone who's been through more than most people on the planet is an honor. And when you don't get the chance, it's a missed opportunity.

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Guy

"Always be yourself... unless you suck"
~ Joss Whedon

Nochicanes

One of the most incredible concentration camp stories I've heard was the one by my mothers best friend Rose Rabow. She had been shipped to Ravensbruck in 1940 at the age of 13. Incredibly brutal camp, she managed to escape after 3 months.

After escaping she WALKED across Europe, thru Turkey down thru southern China and made it to Hong Kong by early 1943. She managed to hop a freighter after the war and got to San Francisco. She later married and had an art gallery in SF for many years.

I don't even have a frame of reference as to how tough that would have been.

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I'm old enough to know the score
Young enough to want more, more, more

MVP44

I make it a point each memorial day to take the family down to DC and walk around to all the memorials. Never fails to be several WWII vets in full dress.

We have gotten to talk to many interesting people
One chased Rommel in North Africa
One was a Bomber pilot shot down twice over Germany and made it home both times
Battle of the bulge vet
American RAF pilot before we officially jumped in

Just to name a few

They will all be gone soon and I don't think many high schoolers today really appreciate what they did.

Tbirdnz

Not a route I would have taken Nochi, having found myself in Turkey probably best go thru Persia (Iran, British occupied) then India (still under British control) then a boat out of Bombay. Hong Kong was Japanese occupied from December '41 to August '45.

You might not have been listening too closely !


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Ride on !

Nochicanes

jews were sent to Shanghai, from Japan, at the begining of the war. There was a small community of Jews in Hong Kong during the war. In fact there had been a small community there since the 1800's. Quite a few of the families in Hong Kong harbored jews that had escaped. It was far easier to hide from the Japanese than the SS or gestapo from what she said. Be that as it may there would be no oppurtunity for clarification as she passed away, I'll take her at her word.

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I'm old enough to know the score
Young enough to want more, more, more