Survivor of wartime massacre to be remembered at service
William O'Callaghan was from Dereham, left, and was captured and fled after playing dead during the Second World war. A service is being held to remember him. He is pictured here at the Nuremberg law courts after war's end. Picture: ARCHANT LIBRARY - Credit: © ARCHANT NORFOLK PHOTOGRAPHIC
One of only two survivors of an infamous Second World War massacre is to be remembered at a memorial service.
At a previous service to remember Dereham war hero William O'Callaghan. Picture: Ian Burt
Tribute will be paid to William O'Callaghan, a member of the 2nd Battlion Royal Norfolk Regiment, who made it home to Dereham from the massacre in Le Paradis, near Dunkirk in France.
In May 1940, German soldiers machine-gunned and bayoneted 99 captured Royal Norfolks, who had surrendered to SS officers.
Although wounded himself, Pte O'Callaghan was able to carry his injured comrade Bert Pooley half a mile to the relative safety of a neighbouring farm.
The service will take place at Dereham's William O'Callaghan Place on Sunday, May 19, at 11.15am.
A historic photo of the graveyard of 98 men from the Royal Norfolk Regiment buried in Le Paradis.Picture: ARCHANT LIBRARY - Credit: Eastern Daily Press ©2004
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Mr O'Callaghan's son, Dennis O'Callaghan, who is president of the town's Royal British Legion branch, said the annual event usually attracted 30-40 people.
"People come from across Norfolk for it," he said.
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