Peter J. Terry Dies At 87 - 27 East

Peter J. Terry Dies At 87

icon 1 Photo

author on Feb 21, 2012

Peter J. Terry

Peter J. Terry, formerly of Bridgehampton and a member of infamous British Commando’s X Troop, died at his home in Greenport on Saturday, February 18. He was 87.

Born Peter Tischler in Vienna, Austria, in 1924, he and his family escaped Austria in 1940 following the Nazi invasion during World War II, and moved to London, England. At 17, he joined the British Army and was selected to join British Commando’s X Troop, an elite group of German-speaking, Jewish ex-patriots, ordered by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to “develop a reign of terror down the enemy coast.” All members had to adopt British names and falsified personal histories and were instructed to disavow any knowledge of their existence if they were caught. This secret and highly specialized troop spearheaded amphibious assaults including the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France, in June 1944, where Mr. Terry was severely injured just two days later. According to his son, James, the entire troop was convinced they were all going to die because of the dangers they were faced with. The X Troop had the highest number of casualties of any British military unit during World War II—only a handful of men returned from war. For helping to liberate a small town in France, Mr. Terry was awarded the French Croix de guerre. James said his father may have been the last of the X Troop—or the “Inglourious Basterds” as they’ve come to be known.

Following World War II, Mr. Terry attended Oxford and Cambridge universities, graduating with a master’s degree in history. He married Elizabeth Browne, a model and movie star in London, in 1951.

He moved to New York City in 1963, working as an executive in the screen printing industry. In 1972, he was one of the first businessmen to open up the Asian markets to mid-sized businesses, creating a global market for companies previously focused solely on national sales.

In 1995, he retired to Bridgehampton where he became an active member of the Bridgehampton Citizens Advisory Committee until he moved to Greenport in 2010.

“He made a significant contribution particularly in problems along Scuttlehole Road and the obligations of the town to preserve facilities for residents,” said Ian McPherson, friend and fellow member of the CAC.

Mr. Terry’s love for traveling brought him to more than 100 countries. He was fluent in five languages and was a fantastic storyteller.

“By going to all of these countries and seeing so many different lifestyles, he really had a flavor for stories,” James said.

When James went to Europe for the first time on his own, his father knew exactly where to send him.

“My father would tell me ‘oh, you’re in Barcelona. Make a left on this street and you’ll find a really unique ice cream store,’” James said. “He loved traveling to these places and he adapted well to different environments. He had an incredible sense of humor and was really quite unique.”

He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth of Greenport; two sons, James of Chicago and Stephen of Northport; and three grandchildren.

Services were private.

You May Also Like:

Southampton Boys Cross Country Wins First County Title in Nearly a Decade; Telvi Punches Her Ticket to States

The day before the Section XI Championships, members of the Southampton boys cross country team ... 11 Nov 2024 by Drew Budd

Trump Taps Zeldin for EPA Chief

President-elect Trump has chosen former 1st District U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin to administer the Environmental ... by Christopher Walsh

PHOTOS: Hampton Bays American Legion Dedicates New Atrium

Hampton Bays American Legion Hand Aldrich Post 924 not only celebrated veterans on Monday, but ... by Staff Writer

The American Way

Donald Trump has been given an extraordinary mandate by the American people. They wanted change, and he promised it. The question I have is: What price are Americans willing to pay to get those changes accomplished Trump style? Trump will close the border and deport illegal immigrants. But he will do it in the Trump way, which will be extreme and brutal. Are Americans going to be OK with that? He will end the war in Ukraine, in the Trump way. He will likely make a deal with Vladimir Putin to give away a portion of Ukraine, and to restrict ... by Staff Writer

Duly Elected

I want to thank everyone who voted for me on Election Day, November 5, and elected me to my first full term as Southampton Town justice. I was appointed by the Southampton Town Board on November 14, 2023. Since my appointment, I have been serving as your appointed Southampton Town justice. I am so grateful for all of the support I have received from all of you. I look forward to continuing to serve as a fair, impartial and now elected Town Justice for the people of Southampton Town. I lastly want to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday ... by Staff Writer

We Just Don't Know

The Shinnecock continue to build their gas station on Westwoods, as government officials responsible for oversight sit on their hands and do nothing. Southampton Town’s Department of Public Safety issued a stop-work order in August, but the town has not enforced it. They also have refused to enforce zoning laws. Despite having the authority, they choose not to use it. Concerned neighbors have reached out to New York State, Suffolk County and the Environmental Protection Agency. We have contacted Governor Kathy Hochul, Marie Therese Dominguez (commissioner of the State Department of Transportation), Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Lisa Garcia (head ... by Staff Writer

Outdoor Gym

Hampton Bays is a virtual gymnasium. It offers something for everyone. The best workout is to walk over the Ponquogue Bridge to the ocean. It is low impact, but the walk might strengthen your heart and legs while you are looking at beautiful scenery and breathing clean, fresh air. To improve on the “bridge exercise,” you could do jumping jacks, push-ups or squats along the way. I usually add a plank at the water’s edge, and I will crawl on the sand for a few minutes. Some people walk to the inlet. For an easy “downtown workout,” park by the ... by Staff Writer

Experts?

Regarding the article “Cannabis Sales on the South Fork Are Coming; Express Sessions Event Taps Expert Assessments” [27east.com, October 30]: I question whether most of the panelists at the Express Sessions are “experts.” Supervisor Maria Moore and Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. are politicians; the former “opted out” when she was mayor of Westhampton Beach, and the latter opposed this state law and the way it was written and handled. Greg Konner is a real estate developer. I also question the adjective “lauded” to describe “the state’s first-of-its-kind attempt at steering the benefits of legalized pot sales to the people ... by Staff Writer

The Pity Party

For decades, three friends and I have met at Le Soir in Blue Point for seasonal dinners. Since I had the longest ride, I stayed overnight at my librarian friend’s house. That way I could enjoy a straight-up dirty martini with three olives. Back then, I was divorced, and my librarian confidante was between husbands, so our conversations focused on money and men. Now money and medical are prime concerns. However, one of the quartet insisted that any talk about medical matters be limited to the Ten-Minute Rule. An “organ recital” wouldn’t leave enough time to laugh and to discuss ... by Denise Gray Meehan

Intense Views

The political campaign signs along Suffolk County roads declared: “Suffolk is Trump Country.” And, indeed, in last week’s election, Suffolk County was Trump country — as was much of the United States. His vote here for president heading the Republican ticket was substantial: 402,924, compared to 323,473 for Democrat Kamala Harris, or 55 to 44 percent. That’s an increase from 2020, when Trump bested Democrat Joe Biden in the county by 232 votes, and 2016, when he won by 46,619 votes in Suffolk County over Democrat Hillary Clinton. I’ve written about outcomes of elections on Long Island for decades, and ... by Karl Grossman