The family of a Newport war veteran who was shot down by the Germans in 1943 but managed a ‘great escape’ will be walking his escape route next month.
Victor Davies, who lives in Meadow View Road was shot down on the French / Belgium border. After bailing out, he was hidden from the Germans in a safe house before making his way to Paris where he spent his 21st birthday.
Victor now aged 86, travelled to the Pyrenees before walking for three days in heavy rain until he was picked up by the British Consul in Spain and returned home.
The resistance workers paid a high cost for their bravery as many were tortured and executed.
Victor’s daughter Cheryl Padgham said her family are doing the walk to show their appreciation to the people who put their lives at risk so others could escape.
She said: “A lot of people were very brave to do what they did. One young lady ran an escape route from Brussels, all the way down to Paris, through France to the Pyrenees, with help from the Basque resistance workers who knew the secret walks.
“That’s the route he took and then he got into Spain. But once there, if you were captured, they would send you to a prisoner of war camp.
“The money will be raised for the helpers who have now fallen on bad times. We will visit some cemeteries of the people who ran the safe houses and the guides.
“We are very proud and grateful for the bravery showed by the helpers who brought them to safety.”
The former Adams’ Grammar School pupil came back to Newport in January 1944 and joined the elite Pathfinders Squadron and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant. He later married his wife Vera and settled in the town.
Walking the Freedom Trail next month will be Victor’s daughters Pauline and Cheryl and grandsons Nick Evans, Mark and Dan Padgham, Tim Leech and niece and nephew Helen and Terry Lowrie.
Anyone wishing to sponsor the walk can contact Cheryl on 01952 811329.
