Captain Douglas Berneville-Claye was serving with the fledgling SAS with fellow officers such as David Stirling and Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne when he was captured in the Western Desert. He was ‘turned’ and became a member of the Nazi Waffen-SS. Collaboration with the enemy was confirmed when dressed as an SS captain he approached remnants of the British Free Corps; the Waffen-SS unit composed of renegade British nationals. He exhorted them to serve under his command against Russian forces. Post-war Berneville-Claye was investigated by MI5 for treachery. Following an Army court-martial he was dishonourably dismissed and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Upon release, his escapades and private life were no less contentious. A philanderer and bigamist, he married four times, sired ten children and rubbed shoulders with the criminal underworld in and out of prison. Eventually he succeeded in emigrating to Australia. Thanks to the author’s painstaking research, this is a compelling yet shocking biography of one of the most intriguing, colourful and disreputable characters of his era. How he escaped with his life is a question readers will ponder. AUTHOR: Michael Scott served in the British Army for 35 years, latterly as a colonel in the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment. Overseas tours of duty included Gibraltar, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. He also saw active service in numerous theatres including Northern Ireland, Congo, Iraq, Sudan, Djibouti and Somaliland. His final appointment was Defence Attach covering the Horn of Africa. He has university degrees from King’s College London, and Newcastle Upon Tyne. His previous books include Tigers at War, The Royal Rifle Volunteers, and Special Forces Commander (published by Pen & Sword Military). He lives with his wife between East Africa and the UK. [102] Mail Order blurb: Captain Douglas Berneville-Claye was serving with the fledgling SAS with fellow officers such as David Stirling and Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne when he was captured in the Western Desert. He was ‘turned’ and became an active member of the Nazi Waffen-SS. Post-war Berneville-Claye was court-martialled for treachery, dishonourably dismissed and jailed for six months. Upon release, his escapades and private life were no less contentious. A philanderer and bigamist, he mixed with the criminal underworld in and out of prison. Eventually he emigrated to Australia. Thanks to the author’s painstaking research, this is a compelling yet shocking biography of one of the most intriguing, colourful and disreputable characters of his era.
16 b/w illustrations