‘Great Escape’ artefact on show

The first public display of unique items created in secret by British prisoners of war is on show at the Imperial War Museum North.

It includes the cap worn by Jimmy James at the time of The Great Escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944, immortalised in the film of the same name. There is also a secret radio made by Capt Ernest Shackleton using items scavenged in a German POW camp.

Called “Captured: The Extraordinary Life of Prisoners of War”, it runs until January 3.

There will also be a free debate at the Salford museum on October 19 on how useful is the current definition of prisoner of war.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Third Geneva Convention in 1949, which defined the rules that regulate treatment of prisoners of war and created the current definition of a PoW, and the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second World War.

The talk is free but booking is required. Call 0161-826 4064, or visit learningnorth@iwm.org.uk