Notable for his part in the 'Great Escape' from Stalag Luft III in March 1944, he was one of the men recaptured and subsequently murdered by the Gestapo.

After school he worked on the family farm and served two years in the Territorial Army with the Manawatu Mounted Rifles.

51 Squadron RAF and flew 22 bombing operations, being promoted flight sergeant in October 1941 and on 27 February 1942 was pilot of an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley which dropped paratroops on the German radar station in what was known as the Bruneval Raid.

[6][7][8] At 18:44 hours GMT on the evening of 22 September 1943 Pohe took off from RAF Snaith in Handley Page Halifax Mark II (aircraft serial number “JN901”) to bomber Hannover.

[9] Over the target area they received two serious hits by anti-aircraft fire and began to limp homewards but had to ditch in the English Channel.

[13] Nineteen recaptured officers were loaded into a lorry the following day and moved to Görlitz prison under Gestapo control.

On 30 March 1944 two of the survivors saw three large sedans with ten Gestapo agents collect six officers, Ian Cross, Mike Casey, George Wiley, Al Hake, Tom Leigh and John Pohe.

[29][30] His conspicuous bravery as a prisoner and escaper was recognized by a Mention in Despatches in the 1944 King's Birthday Honours, as none of the other relevant decorations then available could be awarded posthumously.