British actor Donald Pleasence, a pacifist, spent the 1st 6 months of World War 2, as a conscientious objector.
He changed his mind and enlisted in the Royal Air Force. He flew 50+ raids over occupied Europe.
Tragedy struck when his plane was shot down over France on August 31, 1944. He was thrown into the Nazi prisoner of war camp, Stalag Luft 1.
As a P.O.W., Donald Pleasence was beaten and mentally tortured by sadistic Nazi guards, while dreaming of the day that would bring him freedom.
That day came in June 1945, when he was recovered from the P.O.W. camp and discharged with the rank of flight lieutenant.
While others were licking their wounds at home, Pleasence knew that the only way he would recover from his World War Two horrors
was to get back to work.
Returning to the stage almost immediately, Pleasence starred alongside Olivier and Vivian Leigh in Caesar and Cleopatra & Antony and Cleopatra
in London, New York and Sydney. He went on to appear in 60+ films, 175+ TV credits.
His role, ironically, as a P.O.W. in “The Great Escape”/1962 suddenly brought him to the attention of moviegoers worldwide.
A low-key hero, Mr. Pleasence never publicized/touted his war record or the horrors incurred, therein.
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