Peraya, Jacques: my wartime experiences
PublicABSTRACT: Dr. Jacques Peraya Jacques was born in Salonica, Greece, where there was a prominent Sephardi community and a great cultural centre of Ladino art and learning. His father was an engineer who specialized in building ports. The family moved to France when Jacques was young. In 1940 he moved to Palestine. Around this time the Nazis rounded up the Jews of Greece, including many of Jacques' close family, and took them to the gas chambers. Jacques joined the Royal Greek Army Light forces Middle East to fight the Germans. His unit was part of the British 8th Army under Montgomery. After his training near Hadera, Palestine, Jacques was commissioned as a lieutenant and sent to Egypt. His service took him to Cairo, Alexandria, the Western Desert and Sinai. In 1942 he was transferred to the Refugee Relief Administration because he spoke seven languages. His skills were necessary for interviewing refugees. After demobilization Jacques studied at Columbia University in the USA to become an oral maxillo-facial surgeon. He and his family lived in Venezuela where he taught at the University of Venezuela, before moving to Victoria 18 years ago. While stationed in the Sinai, Jacques met King George, who congratulated him on being "the only Jewish officer in that theatre". They shook hands. Jacques fondly recalls the companionship and shared hardships among his colleagues. In the Sinai he swam in the Red Sea near sharks, without realizing the danger. Being single, he had 'many experiences not for sharing'. 'There was no guarantee you will survive so you live as much as you can.' He said the Shema (an affirmation of Judaism and a declaration of faith in one God) every night in hopes of coming out alive. His message to us is he that felt compelled to fight for what is right. He can never forget the loss of his family at the hand of the Nazis.
An interview/narrative of Jacques Peraya's experiences during World War II. Dr. Peraya served with the Royal Greek Army Light Forces.
Interviewer: Fitch, Edward and Sharon. Date of interview unknown.
Interviewee: Peraya, Jacques
- In Collection:
- 30.06263, 31.24967
- 48.4359, -123.35155
- 27, 28
- 27, 30
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- PJ_552
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/edward-fitch-collection
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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