Fun fact about the wooden horse escape. Peter Butterworth, he of the Carry On films, had served in the navy during the war and had been captured. He was in the same camp and was on the escape committee that had organised the wooden horse escape.
Later, after the war when they were making the film, he auditioned for a part, only to be rejected as he didn't look like an officer.
Later, after the war when they were making the film, he auditioned for a part, only to be rejected as he didn't look like an officer.