Australian ‘Great Escape’ hero Paul Royle who was spared from execution after being recaptured by the Nazis dies aged 101

 

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Paul Royle was the last surviving Australian member of the 1944 Great Escape from the Nazi prison camp Stalag Luft III inside Polish territory. He died on Sunday, aged 101

  • The RAF Flight Lieutenant was number 54 escapee in the Great Escape
  • Paul Royle was arrested on his way to Switzerland 
  • He was captured 24 hours after making it out of Stalag Luft III in Sagan
  • He was subjected to cruel interrogation by Nazis but avoided execution 
  • The Australian pilot’s plane was first shot down over France in 1940
  • His death leaves just one survivor from the iconic breakout

Paul Royle, the last remaining Australian to take part in the 1944 Great Escape, has died aged 101.

The former RAF Flight Lieutenant passed away in Perth on Sunday.

His death leaves just one survivor from the iconic breakout on 24 March, 1944, ex RAF Squadron Leader Dick Churchill, from Devon in the UK.

The pair were part of an audacious escape effort from the notorious Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp in Sagan, Poland, some 160 kilometres east of Berlin.

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More than 10,000 airmen would be held captive at Stalag Luft III during WWII
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A 1940 image of the infamous Stalag Luft III with prisoners walking the perimeter

A total of 76 prisoners tunnelled their way to freedom during the escape attempt but just three airmen managed to avoid recapture. Of the escapees who were caught, 50 were executed on the direct orders of Adolf Hitler.

Now there’s only one man alive of the group of prisioners who made the break after Mr Royle’s son Gordon recently informed Daily Mail Australia of his father’s death.

‘I’m sorry to report that my father died on Sunday (23 Aug) aged 101, meaning that Dick Churchill (95) will be the last survivor,’ he said.

Paul Royle, the last remaining Australian to take part in the 1944 Great Escape, has died aged 101.

The former RAF Flight Lieutenant passed away in Perth on Sunday.

His death leaves just one survivor from the iconic breakout on 24 March, 1944, ex RAF Squadron Leader Dick Churchill, from Devon in the UK.

The pair were part of an audacious escape effort from the notorious Stalag Luft III prisoner of war camp in Sagan, Poland, some 160 kilometres east of Berlin.