Pas, Wilhelmus Godefriedus “Gort”, born 16-01-1904 in Borkel and Schaft. 
Netherlands, the fourth of the six children of Petrus Pas and Hendrina, born Slenders. After primary school Gort goes to work in the sawmill of the Smolders company on Schaft. Gort continues to live as a bachelor with his parents in Borkel. and on 19-08-1939, at the beginning of the mobilization, due to the threat of Adolf Hitler‘s Germany against the surrounding countries, 
he was called up for military service. Gort has to report as a conscript to the Royal Netherlands Army in Roermond. There he is assigned to the 1st company of the 17th Border Battalion. The 17th G.B. was commanded by Major J.G.G.M. Hamm, while the 1st Company was led by Captain H.M. van Oorschot, Gort Pas served in the section of Sergeant A.M Rangelrooij.
Gort’s company is ordered to defend the Maas at Roermond with very inadequate means. 
The defense consists of concrete casemates with light and heavy machine guns, but the positions have no depth. Gort’s company is equipped with only one piece of anti-aircraft gun. Protests about this are declared unfounded, much to the frustration of the men and non-commissioned officers from the staff.In the early morning of May 10, 1940, the German army invades. 
The German excuse for this is the Venlo incident. The Venlo incident concerns the kidnapping of two agents of the British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) by the German Sicherheitsdienst. The two agents were taken on Dutch territory on 9 November 1939 and held in Germany at a time when the Netherlands was not yet involved in the Second World War. 
Before the actual attack begins, German sabotage groups try to capture the bridges over the Maas undamaged in order to make the advance as fast as possible. However, a few Dutch guards see this happening and manage to drive the Germans away and then blow up the bridges. At half past four in the morning, when the Germans have crossed the Maas in rubber boats, the first firefight takes place in front of Gort’s company. 
The Germans are initially repulsed with machine gun fire, until the German artillery appears an hour later with 88mm guns 
to take out the casemates. It is not until eight o’clock that the Germans manage to hold the other side of the Maas. Gort withdraws with his company to Horn, where he reports to his superior, Captain Van Oorschot. He orders him to take cover in the position at casemate G-25 on the road from Roermond to Weert.
Death and burial ground of Pas, Wilhelmus Godefriedus “Gort”.
With seven comrades, Gort Pas remains in cover near the heavily shelled casemate, until a projectile hits the position and kills six of them instantly. The 6 soldiers who died are:Soldier Arie Van Driel
from Poederoijen (20) Soldier L. Bennink from Zuidwolde (19) Soldier Wilhelmus Godefried “Gort” Pas from Borkel en Schaft (36) Soldier Gerrit Jansen
from Kaatsheuvel (20) Soldier Karel Bernhad Lambertus Pollen 
from Beesel (20) Soldier Adrianus Anthonius Van de Bruggen 
from Cromvoirt (20).
Wilhelmus Godefried Pas “Gort” in May 1940 was 36 years old and was buried in Roermond at the cemetery In ‘t Zand. Parklaan 1 6045BS Roermond.
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