Veteran wants to hear from his old comrades

A prisoner of war locked up for five years during the Second World War despite two daring escape bids is now searching for any other surviving soldiers from Nazi camps.

James Johnstone, known as Jimmy, was captured by German troops in northern France after the battle for Saint-Valery-en-Caux.

Now 98, the old soldier, pictured, recalled how he was wounded in the battle then shepherded to slave labour camps in Poland and Germany on a “death march”.

Mr Johnstone, who lives in Aberdeen, wants other fellow prisoners – or their families – to get in touch with him through the Scottish War Blinded charity to reminisce about their experiences.

The veteran enlisted with the Royal Engineers in 1937 at just 16 and two years later was called up with the 51st Highland Division and travelled to fight in France.

After defeat at Valery in June 1940, the captured troops were forced to walk hundreds of miles to the Stalag camps in Germany, via Belgium and the Netherlands.

Working 12 hours a day in the camps, Mr Johnstone had to load coal on to German trucks with “just watery soup and a German loaf between five men” for food.

In June 1943, he went on the run for a fortnight with his friend Jackie Lockwood, who was also a PoW disguised as Polish civilians.

Two years later, as prisoners were being marched to another camp in Germany he made a second bid for freedom with three other Britons.

After the war, Mr Johnstone was in the Royal Engineers Territorial Army, finishing up as a sergeant.

He later enjoyed careers with the postal service and as a civil servant.

Mr Johnstone would like to hear from other survivors, especially Private “Kleats” McKenzie of the Seaforth Highlanders, Jackie Lockwood, Gerald Fury, Bert Petrie and Jim Watt.

He said: “A lot of people say I have led a very unusual, interesting life. I have lived.” Any survivors, or a relative willing to speak to him, can contact the Scottish War Blinded charity on 0800 035 6409.