Published 21st Jul 2023, 06:00 BST

Great Escapes, at Richmond's Green Howards Museum, features objects from silken maps to tiny compasses concealed in buttons, or prison camp plans. There is also artwork, as a form of escapism for those held as prisoners.

"The exhibition is a bit of everything," said Zoe Utley, head of collections. "There's prisoner of war escapes, lucky escapes, gruesome objects that don't often go on display. These are personal stories, incredible stories. And with three soldiers highlighted, objects that tell of their own great escapes from prisoner of war camps in the Second World War."

Among those highlighted is 2nd Lieutenant Ernest Harrison, who escaped from a moving train in Bavaria, and who ended up at the infamous camp for serial escapees; Colditz Castle. Here, he attempted to dig a snow tunnel from the canteen, before plotting to abscond with the world-famous Capt Pat Reed, eventually aiding others by creating escape tools.

Photographed for the Yorkshire Post by Tony Johnson, Zoë Utley, head of collections at the Green Howard's Museum in Richmond with a lighter owned by Capt Hugh Levin with a bullet embeded in it from enemy fire during WWI which saved his life. The artefact is in the museums Great Escapes exhibition.

On display is his regimental prisoner of war card, with his camps crossed out as he was deemed so high risk, eventually receiving a citation in dispatches for his support.

"It's incredible to think of him, conspiring in secret," said Ms Utley.

Then Major D'Arcy Mander, awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) after setting up a spy network in Rome. When he finally returned home, it was to meet his three-and-a-half year old daughter for the first time.

Finally, Major George Girling, who walked free from an Italian POW camp on September 8, 1943. He endured a gruelling walk through the Italian Apennines, over 1,000km, and there are letters from a local man who provided a hat to serve as a secret disguise.

Displayed for the Great Escapes exhibition at the Green Howard's Museum in Richmond, POW George Girling's hat given by a local priest to disguise him from capture after he walked out out Camp PG49 in Fontanellato, Italy in 1943, photographed for the Yorkshire Post by Tony Johnson.

Some 75 years later, on the anniversary of George's escape, the museum was able to help reunite the families of both men, confirming family legends with the surviving letters - and the hat itself which now resides in its collection.

"It brings it home, this everyday object, which helped him escape and keep him safe," said Ms Utley.

The exhibition also outlines a range of 'lucky' escapes, with objects such as pieces of shrapnel, or notebooks, match cases, and tins which have stood in the way of an enemy bullet. One, a Lucifer lighter belonging to a Capt Hugh Levin, still has the bullet lodged in it.

"There's a significant amount of chance in deciding your fate," said Ms Utley. Through it all, she added, the exhibition highlights soldiers’ "perseverance, and determination".

Displayed for the Great Escapes exhibition at the Green Howard's Museum in Richmond, the detailed information on the invasion map of the Sicily campaign, photographed for the Yorkshire Post by Tony Johnson.

She said: "If you've been captured, you might feel shame, or even relief not to be on the front line any more. They managed to get by, but also to escape and aid the war effort. It's amazing for us to be able to tell these stories."

Great Escapes runs for the rest of the year.

Yorkshire's Green Howards: Exploring true stories of soldiers' Great Escapes in war