Latest news with #OperationPimento:MyGreat-Grandfather'sGreatEscape
Pembrokeshire Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pembrokeshire author retraces daring WW2 escape in new book
Operation Pimento tells the story of a local man's heroic great-grandfather—and the civilians who risked everything to save him A YOUNG author from Pembrokeshire is set to publish his first book this week, telling the incredible true story of his great-grandfather's escape from Nazi-occupied Europe during the Second World War. Adam Hart, 25, who grew up just outside Narberth and attended Tavernspite Primary School, will release Operation Pimento: My Great-Grandfather's Great Escape on Thursday (June 5). The book is being published by Hodder & Stoughton in hardback, eBook and audio formats. The story follows Squadron Leader Frank Griffiths, a Special Duties pilot from north Wales, who was shot down in August 1943 while on a secret mission to drop supplies to the French Resistance. Frank's plane crashed near the village of Annecy, killing six crew members and five civilians. Frank was the only survivor. What followed was a breathtaking 1,400-mile escape over 108 days, as Frank—helped by French villagers, children, brothel workers and resistance fighters—made his way to safety via Spain and Gibraltar. His journey included hiding in an attic above a brothel, crawling through a chimney, and enduring a prison cell in Franco's Spain before finally reaching Allied forces. In 2022, Adam retraced his great-grandfather's entire escape route, meeting descendants of those who had risked their lives to save Frank. The book combines their two stories across time, paying tribute to wartime bravery and the lasting impact of shared history. 'Growing up, I always thought of my great-grandfather as a hero,' said Adam. 'But during my journey I realised the true heroes were the ordinary French civilians who risked imprisonment, torture and even death to help him.' The book has already received high praise from bestselling authors and historians. Andy McNab called it 'truly inspiring,' while Anthony Horowitz said it was 'an affectionate and often audacious tale of an unsung WW2 hero.' Adam has previously written for The Times and The Telegraph, and has appeared on Antiques Roadshow, ITV Evening News, and Radio 4. Operation Pimento is available from Thursday (June 5), priced at £22. Adam Hart, 25, will release Operation Pimento: My Great-Grandfather's Great Escape on Thursday (June 5).
Western Telegraph
4 days ago
- Western Telegraph
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.
