When D-Day veteran and ‘Great Escaper’ Bernard Jordan was told that he couldn’t visit Normandy, France, he took matters into his own hands.

This riveting tale occurred in June 2014 just before the 70th anniversary of the historic battle. As Royal Navy veteran who had fought bravely on the beaches of Normandy, Jordan wished to join the celebrations in France and meet other veterans.

But his nursing home wouldn’t allow it. His carers claimed that they had no way of sending the then 89 year-old veteran to France, and even if they did there wasn’t enough time to arrange the trip. Jordan accepted this information cooly and announced that he was going on a walk.

Little did the nursing home know, Jordan had hidden all of his war medals beneath his raincoat. Once he was outside, he took a cab to Portsmouth and then hopped on a cross-channel ferry to France. By the time his carers realized he was missing, Jordan had checked into a French hotel.

“I just wanted to go over and join in with the commemorations,” Jordan said.

While a frantic search was underway in England, Jordan met other WWII veterans, ate delicious food and ‘charmed the ladies.’

“Being a veteran myself this was important to me and it meant the world to be there. I met some great characters – from old veterans to dancing girls – and I loved every minute,” Jordan said. “It was such an exciting experience – it was a smashing event but it is marvelous to be back. I will have to face the music at the care home now, but that is just one of those things in life. You have good and bad things – you just get on with it and do your best.”

The nursing home learned of Jordan’s whereabouts when another veteran called them and said he was safe in Normandy. The one person who didn’t give the D-Day veteran up was Jordan’s wife, Irene, who knew about his trip ahead of time and helped in his escape.

“My wife knew I was going – she supported me,” Jordan said. “I’m really pleased I did it and I’ll do it again next year if I’m still here.”

Unfortunately, Jordan’s great escape did not become an annual tradition. The veteran died in Jan. 2015 at the age of 90.

Despite being put through the wringer by the veteran’s sudden disappearance that summer day, the nursing home staff remember him fondly:

Bernie was always insistent that what he did during the war was nothing unusual, and only what many thousands of others did for their country. That may well be true, but the little bit of excitement he gave everyone last June was typical of his no nonsense attitude to life and is how he will be remembered by thousands of people.

[BBC]