Person:Marcel Lehrer (21)

Name	Marcel Florent Lehrer
Gender	Male
Birth`^?`	13 Jan 1922	Dabo, Moselle, Lorraine, France
Marriage	1943	North Sydney, New South Wales, Australiato Agnes Gwendoline (Gwen) Borrill
Occupation`^?`	1946	Age: 23-24 Market Gardening
Emigration`^?`	4 Feb 1946	Sydney, NSW, AustraliaAge: 24
Nationality`^?`	19 Jul 1951	Sydney, NSW, AustraliaAge: 29
Occupation`^?`	1975	Age: 52-53 Commercial Cleaning
Residence^[1]		5 Elanora Close, Baulkham Hills, NSW, 2153, Australia
Death^[1]	10 Jan 2001	Baulkham Hills, NSW, AustraliaCause: Cardiomyopathy 1 year, Ischaemic heart disease 5 - 10 years Age: 78 Y
Burial^[1]		Rouse Hill, NSW, AustraliaCastlebrook Crematorium

Marcel Florent Lehrer was born on the 13th January 1922 in Dabo, Moselle, Lorraine, France. This is very close to the regional border with Alsace, France. Marcel and his parents families considered themselves as Alsatians and spoke a French / German dialect that they called Alsatian.

Marcel was the middle of three children to his parents, Florent Lehrer and Marie Ann Scherno. After his fathers death Marcel and his sister Ella spent some time living with their uncle Leon while their mother was working in Strasbourg. Their mother remarried to Fredrique Buchmann who had 3 children from his previous marriage.

Marcel told the story that when he was 17 and World War II was commencing in September 1939, there were German and French troops moving through Dabo from either end of town, enlisting all the young men as they went and so most hid and then made their decisions which side they were joining. In a region that had been ruled by both French and German many times over the years, it became a mix of people within families choosing opposing sides. Marcel chose to fight against the Germans and being able to speak fluent German and French he trained as a spy, however his skill with short range weapons would have got him killed and he ended up in the Navy with the free French after Germany claimed France in the spring of 1940. Before Marcel departed, his young step-sister Renee made him a paper flower with pictures of flowers she had drawn on both sides, he kept this gift for the rest of his life.

Marcel first arrived in Australia in 1941 as crew on the Free French Navy ship, Le Triomphant and remained in the area with the Navy for 2 years while they escorted convoys of ships. On 26th November 1943, Triomphant departed Fremantle to escort a convoy comprising the American oil tanker Cedar Mills and the Dutch cargo ship Java. The convoy was struck by a cyclone, nearly sinking Triomphant; with a 45° list, she was taken in tow. She was subsequently sent for refit to the United States, where she remained until March 1945.

While in Australia Marcel had met and married Gwen Borrill in 1943, while another member of the French crew Louis Desi't married her sister Joan. On Monday 4th February 1946 they returned to Australia on board an American ship, the U.S.S Colusa.

Marcel became an Australian citizen on the 19th July 1951. The description on those papers describe him as; Occupation: Market Gardener Marital Status: Married Height: 5' 8” Colour of eyes: Hazel Colour of hair: Brown Visible distinguishing marks: Scar on left wrist Signature:

Marcel and Gwen were married in Sydney during 1943. Their eldest son was also born in 1943, during World War II, while Marcel was at sea. They were apart for a few years while Marcel was in in America before the end of the war.

Marcel went from being a market gardener to a commercial cleaner later in his career. As they were retiring Marcel and Gwen decided to move closer to where their sons were living and they moved to a smaller property at 5 Elanora Court, Baulkham Hills, NSW

Gwen passed away at Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia on the 1st February 1997 and Marcel died four years later at The Hills Private Hospital, Baulkham Hills, NSW, Australia on the 10th January 2001.

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