Tributes paid to Sheffield war hero who attempted daring escape from POW camp

One of Sheffield’s last-surviving Dunkirk veterans, who spent five years in a prisoner-of-war camp, has sadly died aged 101.
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Jack Kelly, who lived in Netherthope and on the Manor estate before emigrating to Canada and Australia, joined the Army as a teenager in 1938, the year before the Second World War broke out.

As a member of the Royal Engineers, he played a crucial role in the Dunkirk evacuations of May and June, 1940, blowing up bridges to slow the Nazi advance and help retreating troops escape by sea.

Sheffield WW2 veteran Jack Kelly pictured during the war and more recentlySheffield WW2 veteran Jack Kelly pictured during the war and more recently
Sheffield WW2 veteran Jack Kelly pictured during the war and more recently
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But he never made it to safety himself, being captured by German troops in the northern French village of Cassel.

He was taken to the notorious Stalag VIII-B prisoner-of-war camp in Lamsdorf, Poland, where he was held in appalling conditions and he was forced to do hard labour, including working down a coal mine and at a paper mill.

His son John told how Jack twice tried to escape unsuccessfully during his five years in captivity.

"On one occasion, he and a friend called Christopher Lambert, who was also from Sheffield, were carrying a wooden plank which they used to clamber over the barbed wire fence,” said John.

Jack Kelly (centre) pictured with fellow prisoners-of-warJack Kelly (centre) pictured with fellow prisoners-of-war
Jack Kelly (centre) pictured with fellow prisoners-of-war
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"But after getting out they were running down a country lane when they bumped into a German officer who was out with his girlfriend and pulled out his gun, so that was the end of that escape attempt.”

John told how food was scarce and prisoners depended on Red Cross parcels just to survive. By the time the war ended, Jack had withered down to a skeletal seven stone and was crawling with lice.

Jack was part of the Long March to Freedom in 1945, when prisoners-of-war were forced to trek hundreds of miles in the bitter cold by their captors, who were on the retreat from advancing Soviet troops.

Jack Kelly was one of the last surviving Dunkirk veterans from SheffieldJack Kelly was one of the last surviving Dunkirk veterans from Sheffield
Jack Kelly was one of the last surviving Dunkirk veterans from Sheffield

He was eventually abandoned among the rubble near Dresden, which had been heavily bombed by the Allies, and he made his way to the Czech border, where he was liberated by American troops and flown back to the UK via Belgium.

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Back in Sheffield, Jack worked as a bricklayer and was a familiar face at the working men’s clubs of the time, including Park & Arbourthorne WMC. He was also a keen fisher and enjoyed snooker and darts.

In 1948, he met his future wife Ida while they were both out walking on the Manor estate.

Jack Kelly's family said they were proud of his wartime serviceJack Kelly's family said they were proud of his wartime service
Jack Kelly's family said they were proud of his wartime service

They would be married for 57 years, until Ida sadly died, and they had three sons together and were blessed with five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

In 1955, Jack and his family emigrated to Australia as part of the ‘Ten Pound Poms’ scheme to supply workers.

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They spent five years there before returning to the UK and settling in Creswell, Derbyshire, where Jack worked down the pit.

In 1965, they headed to Canada, where Jack lived until 1995 before moving to Australia, where he remained until his death on January 8 this year following a short illness.

“He was a hard man but a loving father, and we’re very proud of what he did during the war,” said John.