Veteran who escaped the Nazi passes away at the age 100

A war veteran who escaped a POW camp and trekked across Europe to escape the Nazis has passed away at the age of 100.
John Mountain's last personal mission was to reach 100, which he did last year.John Mountain's last personal mission was to reach 100, which he did last year.
John Mountain's last personal mission was to reach 100, which he did last year.

John Mountain had told family and friends that his final goal was to reach the three-figure milestone, which he did in April last year.

Originally from Wrenthorpe, his experiences during the Second World War led to him writing a book - A Mountain to Climb - in which he and his late wife Nora chronicled both their experiences from the moment he left to fight in the conflict to them being re-united.

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Fighting in the Libyan Desert in 1942, 500 of his 800-man unit was killed.

John was captured and held in a prisoner-of-war camp at the foot of the mountainous range, the Dolomites, in northern Italy.

But in September 1943 he and his fellow POWs were able to escape across the mountains on foot, eventually reaching the neutral territory of Switzerland after a gruelling three-month trek.

He did not land back in England until 1944 when he was finally re-united with Nora.

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When Nora passed away in 2013, John continued to live independently up until April 2018, when he entered West Ridings Care Home in Lofthouse Gate.

He passed away at the home earlier this month.

His niece Judy Eland said: “John was well cared for and enjoyed his time at the care home making new friends and engaging with the staff.

“Like many other care home residents, he did find life more difficult during the pandemic not having his usual visitors but he still tried to be his usual cheerful self.”

John and Nora's book is still available to buy by clicking here.Proceeds from the sale go towards Wakefield Hospice.

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