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Berthe Mayer

1913 – 1981

Intelligence agent in World War II

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About Berthe Mayer

Lived 1913 – 1981 (aged 67–68).

Berthe Marcelle Mayer (12 June 1913 – August 1981) worked for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) on Madagascar during the Second World War. She was married to Percy Mayer, an SOE agent. She operated the radio for him, and collected intelligence herself when he was away.

Second World War

When France fell in 1940, Madagascar came under Vichy French control. Berthe and Percy lived on the island, and started sending intelligence reports to SOE in Durban. In October 1941, which Percy was away on business, Berthe gathered and transmitted intelligence about a Vichy merchant ship convoy, leading to the capture of five ships, totalling 40,000 tons. Admiral Godfrey, the director of Naval Intelligence, wrote a personal letter of thanks, describing it as "a very fine show indeed".

When the Allies invaded in 1942, Berthe was living in the Vichy-controlled capital, Tananarive. She continued to gather and send intelligence, despite being told to stop by both her husband and the SOE. The authorities suspected Berthe, and searched the house looking for a radio transmitter, but were unable to find any evidence of her intelligence activities.

In November 1943, Lord Harlech, the High Commissioner to South Africa, presented Berthe with the MBE in recognition of her work.

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Important facts

Birth century
Died
1981

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Berthe Mayer's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Berthe Mayer?

intelligence agent in World War II

When was Berthe Mayer born?

Berthe Mayer was born on 12 June 1913.

When did Berthe Mayer die?

Berthe Mayer died in 1981.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Berthe Mayer

· Wikidata: Q130284235

· DBpedia: Berthe Mayer

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Berthe Mayer. https://biography.guide/berthe-mayer/

MLA: "Berthe Mayer." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/berthe-mayer/.

Chicago: "Berthe Mayer." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/berthe-mayer/.

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