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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Rebecca Koncienzcy

Escape of Scouser, 103, from Nazis is a 'movie in the making'

A war hero's story of his escape from a Nazi who recognised his 'Scouse' accent is said to be a "movie in the making".

ECHO readers flooded our website and social media with belated birthday wishes for Job Witton "a true hero" who turned 103 on Monday, July 12.

The former WWII soldier had previously stayed silent about the years he spent defending Britain from the German invasion.

READ MORE: Man abandoned by his mates and left lying seriously injured on beach

But recently he has opened up about those dark times and told of the acts of kindness from the French resistance that kept him alive as he tried to make it back to home soil.

Job, from Ellesmere Port, was captured after Dunkirk but managed to slip away from the German guards into a forest as they walked the prisoners of war to Berlin.

During his journey back through France, he had a run-in with a German officer.

Speaking to the ECHO, Job's nephew Paul Evans said: "I don't think Uncle Job has a Scouse accent because he is from Ellesmere Port, but I think if you are from another country you can't tell the slight differences.

"This officer picked up on his accent and said 'all the best sailors come from Liverpool'.

"He told Uncle Job how he had spent six years in Liverpool before the war as a shipping agent.

"Uncle Job knew it was better to be thought of as a merchant sailor than an escaped POW so he went along with it."

Readers were in awe of Job and his story, user Tonyglfc said on our website: " Got to be a movie in the making, that’s a great story."

tonydddd said: "Brilliant story, well done, sir. Credit to our country... happy birthday!!"

Bill6113 said: "Congratulations, 103 amazing. Many thanks for stepping up when it mattered."

User 'Riverside' said: "Sir thank you for your service, you are a true hero."

Another, Suits You, Sir, said: "Happy Birthday to you. Your story deserved telling. Respect."

On our Facebook page, Gary Luffman said: "What a great story from a very humble hero."

Susan Thorburn said: "Thank you sir, you are an inspiration to many with determination and dedication to our country."

James Lucas said: "If there were more men like you today this world would be a better place happy birthday you hero thank you and all the others for what I have today."

David Yates said: "What a great story thanks to job and his family for sharing it."

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