Date of birth:

1920 (Berlin, Germany)

Date of death:

August 1st, 2016

Nationality:

British

He was born in Berlin (Surname Behrendt) escaped to UK just before the SS came for his passport, arrested by the British as an enemy alien, transported to a secret POW camp (he had to build) in the Canadian wilderness. After a year the British realised their 'mistake' and gave him the choice of staying in Canada ( a lot did and formed the timber industry there) or returning. He chose to return to fight the Nazis. Got arrested twice more in UK for being German, bribed his way out of gaol, then sent to Scotland to help for the new unit called the British Commandos ( as he could speak German). The Brits changed his name.

He was a captain in the 47 Royal Marine Commandos and was in the harbour of Lübeck at the time of the bombing. He had been there a while and was in charge of the tiny British commando unit part of the No 6 Army Commandos. It was sent there to look after the thousands of refugees/ex prisoners on the shore (his unit the 47th was mostly destroyed at the battle of the Maas River.) He had to feed the refugees by bartering potatoes for fish with the local fisherman. He said with pride that the fishing boats were called Gerry's Navy.

He also received the surrender of many thousand Nazi troops ( including SS). They preferred to surrender to the British than confront the Soviet forces. He saw the ships bombed and strafed and went on board to try to rescue any survivors. He said they had to shoot the German guards who were machine gunning the remaining refugees.

After Lubeck he was assigned to the courts in Germany to prosecute the war criminals and then in charge of (Manager/trainer) the new combined services soccer team. He travelled with the team to Poland. He didn't know, but the Allies used the soccer team to transport spies into the Soviet occupied areas. He was arrested again as a spy when they came back off tour in Berlin - Penalty was death.

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• Photo 1: William O'Toole
• - William O'Toole