PoW who risked life for love being made into Hollywood film

Horace confronting Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler through a barbed-wire fence Credit: PA

The story of a prisoner-of-war from Leicestershire who risked his life for his Germany sweetheart is going to be made into a Hollywood film.

Horace Greasley from Ibstock was a private with the 2nd/5th Leicestershire Regiment when he was captured by the Germans during the British retreat from Dunkirk in May 1940.

During his time in a PoW camp Horace worked in a quarry where he met a woman called Rosa, she was the quarry director's daughter.

Rosa was part Jewish and so was forced to hide her true identity.

Horace & Rosa began a relationship, but in order to see each other Horace had to break out of his cell each night.

Horace Greasley (front row 2nd from right) with his colleagues at a POW camp, Poland Credit: Family photo

He broke out by bending the bars of his cell and sneaking past armed guards. If he had been caught he would have been shot. After the war Horace returned to the UK but continued to get letters from Rosa.

Shortly afterwards Horace learned Rosa had died in childbirth. He never knew if the child was his.

In 2008 Horace's story was published in a book after author Ken Scott came across a photo of Horace confronting Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler through a barbed-wire fence.

Sadly Horace died two years ago.

Now his story is being turned into a film. It is not yet known who will direct it, or which actors have beenlined up.Filming is due to start in Poland next spring.

Some scenes will also be filmed in the UK and Hollywood.