A DURSLEY war veteran who escaped from a German prisoner of war camp, celebrated his 101st birthday this week.

John Simmonds marked the occasion by enjoying a slice of cake and a birthday tea with his wife Freda on Monday.

John was a prisoner of war at Stalag 18 - a camp in Southern Austria which was part of the Third Reich - from 1941 to 1945.

The camp detained British and Commonwealth prisoners who were captured during the battles of Greece and Crete in 1941. Prisoners from the Soviet Union were also held there.

A rifleman with the 1st Rangers King’s Royal Rifle Corps, John is the last known surviving veteran of the Greek campaign and was captured the 12th April 1941.

He was a prisoner of war for nearly four years before managing to escape.

John now lives on Norman Hill in Dursley, with his wife Freda, and there are currently four generations of his family living close by.

He met Freda whilst working in the city of London and they were married in the early 1950s.

The couple have three children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

John has continued his great interest in sport - he loves cricket, rugby and his beloved football team, Arsenal.

Born in New Barn, Kent, John loved playing sport as a lad, and was captain of both the rugby and cricket teams at school.

He joined the army at age 18 and ended up in Greece in April 1941, where he was taken prison of war.

He met his wife Freda whilst working in the city of London and they were married in the early 1950s.

The couple went on to have three children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Freda worked at Durcans hardware store in Dursley on Saturdays for many years.

John has continued his great interest in sport - he loves cricket, rugby and his beloved football team, Arsenal.