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A pre-war riding crop that was owned by a World War Two soldier who inspired one of the characters in The Great Escape film, has been discovered in the back of an airing cupboard by a plumber.

Marcel Zillessen was born in Northampton and attended Gresham's School in Norfolk in the early 1930s, which is where he used the crop.

The item, which is inscribed with the Gresham's School badge, will be auctioned in May.

Matt Crowson, the head of medals and militaria at Hansons Auctioneers, said: "His swagger stick... is a memento of a man who will never be forgotten."

The stick is 70.3cm long with a lacquered malacca cane body, brass ferrule and nickel pommel. It has the badge of Gresham's School Officer Training Corps embossed onto it and is engraved with the name Zillessen.

Mr Crowson said: "His swagger stick, a short crop usually carried by a uniformed person as a symbol of authority, is a memento of a man who will never be forgotten thanks to his role in the Great Escape from Nazi prisoner of war camp Stalag Luft III.

"Zillessen was due to be the last man out of an escape tunnel called 'Harry'. He never actually made it, though that ultimately saved his life.

"Of the 76 who did escape, most were captured within three days and 50 were executed on Hitler’s orders. Only three got away."

The seller of the item said it was discovered in their airing cupboard after a plumber came to carry out work on their boiler.

It is thought the man who originally was given the riding crop may have known Mr Zillessen at Gresham's School Officer Training Corps.

The item is due to be sold at auction as part of the Hansons' Medals and Militaria Auction on Wednesday 15 May.

The riding crop has a guide price of £100 to £150.

Mr Crowson said: "The estimate may appear modest but the memories it’s likely to unleash will be monumental. Had the piece have been connected to Zillessen’s wartime service and the Great Escape it would be worth much more... the find may surprise us all under the hammer."

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