Jack Byrne, who has died aged 85, was one of the SAS "Originals" and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal for a daring escape from a German PoW camp in 1943. After being recruited by Captain David Stirling, Byrne joined "L" Detachment, 1st Special Service Brigade, the unit which subsequently became 1st SAS Regiment. After intensive training, in November 1941 he took part in a paratroop raid on enemy fighter bases in the Gazala-Tmimi area, Libya. In the high winds the sticks became separated, weapons and equipment were lost and, of the 64 men who set out, only 22 returned. A month later the survivors left their base at the Jalo Oasis for a night raid on Agedabia airfield. Each man carried eight Lewes bombs, which they placed high up on the wings of the bombers and the noses of the fighters. They destroyed all 37 aircraft. After helping to blow up ammunition dumps at Berka airstrip, Byrne missed a rendezvous with his patrol. He set off alone across the desert in an attempt to reach the Allied lines and was captured. Told to surrender his arms, he pulled his revolver from its holster, intending to throw it on the ground. The gesture was misinterpreted and he was shot in the face, but was not badly wounded.
Byrne was sent to Stalag Luft III, Sagan, in Poland. He made two unsuccessful escape attempts before crawling under the perimeter wire directly below a watch tower and walking to Königsberg station. French workmen provided him with civilian clothes, food and money. He then stole a bicycle and made his way to Danzig, evading several road blocks on the way. Having bluffed his way into the docks, Byrne put on a sailor's cap which he had picked up earlier. When he was challenged by a sentry, he sparred playfully with the man, who then waved him up the companionway and on to a Swedish ship. Byrne concealed himself under one of the boilers, and, when the vessel was searched before sailing, he raised himself off the floor by clinging to a pipe to escape detection. A friendly sailor hid him in the hold and brought him food. After disembarking at Gothenburg, he took the train to Stockholm and flew to Leuchars in a Mosquito. He was awarded the DCM.
John Vincent Byrne was born on April 1 1921 at Preston, Lancashire, and educated at Army Apprentices College, Chepstow. He enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders and was wounded in France in 1940 while serving with the 1st Battalion. After the evacuation from Dunkirk, he was transferred to 11 (Scottish) Commando and took part in the landings north of the Litani river during the campaign in Syria against the Vichy French. After his escape from the PoW camp he retained his rank of corporal and moved to the Commando Depot at Achnacarry, Inverness-shire, for rigorous re-training before being posted to 6 Commando.
Shortly after landing in Normandy, Byrne was wounded in the knee and evacuated, but rejoined 6 Commando in Holland for the final phase of the campaign in north-west Europe.
After the war Byrne went to Greece with 4th Battalion the Royal Norfolk Regiment and was seconded to HQ 179 Infantry Brigade. He was demobilised early in 1947 and served with the Kenya Police for a spell before moving to Kulai Police District, Johor, on internal security duties at the outset of the Malaya "Emergency".
In 1953 a terrorist fired his revolver into Byrne's stomach at point-blank range. After being discharged from hospital he returned to Kenya to work in the prison service before retiring in 1958. He settled in Shropshire, and built up a drapery business until he finally retired in 1986.
Jack Byrne died on January 10. He is survived by their three daughters