High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Major-General John Frederick Boyce Combe CB DSO & Bar (1 August 1895 - 12 July 1967) was a British Army officer before and during World War II. He was twice awarded the DSO for his service in the Western Desert Campaign before being captured in April 1941 and spending nearly two and a half years as a prisoner of war in Italy. Released in September 1943 when Italy withdrew from the Axis, he made his way back to Allied territory and from October 1944 until the end of the war commanded an amoured brigade.