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 dishonorably 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, colorful and
disreputable characters of his era. How he escaped with his life is a
question readers will ponder.