Pembrokeshire man's book tells ancestor's WWII escape story
Adam Hart, from Narberth, has penned his debut book, Operation Pimento: My Great-Grandfather's Great Escape.
In it, he recounts the perilous journey of his great-grandfather, Squadron Leader Frank Griffiths, who was the sole survivor of a plane crash during a secret mission in 1943.
The crash, which occurred near Annecy, France, claimed the lives of five civilians and all six of Frank's crew.
Frank's story, however, did not end with the crash.
Instead, it marked the beginning of a remarkable 1,400-mile, 108-day escape.
With the help of ordinary people, including children, villagers, farmers, rebels, and soldiers, Frank navigated a dangerous path to safety in Gibraltar.
His journey included hiding in a Frenchwoman's chimney, in an attic over a brothel, and in a Spanish prison cell, as well as a gruelling trek over the Pyrenees.
Fast forward 79 years, and Mr Hart embarked on a journey of his own, retracing his great-grandfather's escape route step by step.
Along the way, he met the descendants of the brave individuals who had risked their lives to assist Frank.
Mr Hart first got the idea for the book when he won a travel bursary to retrace his great-grandfather's escape during his studies at Cardiff University.
He said: "Having grown up hearing Frank's story, I always thought of my great-grandfather as a hero.
"But during my journey across Europe, I realised the true heroes in this story were the people of France who risked, and in some cases later faced, imprisonment, torture, and execution to save him.
"I'm so grateful to Hodder & Stoughton for keeping not only Frank's story alive, but also these incredible French civilians."
Operation Pimento: My Great-Grandfather's Great Escape is available in hardback, eBook, and audio for £22 from June 5.
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