Bob describes his new family, the Mackenzies, and their efforts to get his parents out of Germany. BM: Mr Mackenzie’s house consisted of the main house and a small attached cottage. The Mackenzie family were made up of Granny Mackenzie, Mr Mackenzie (a widower) and three daughters; Agnes, Janet and Jessie. The family lived in … Read more
Bob mentions what he can remember of his journey to Britain and his arrival in Selkirk. He goes on to describe his first introduction to the Mackenzie family of Forres. BM: I’m not sure where we joined the train and to this day I have never found out. Unfortunately there is a complete blank from … Read more
I was born in the town of Chemnitz in South East Germany. I do not recollect my very early years but in 1933 my father lost his job in Chemnitz and we moved to a small town called Neukirchen, about five miles from Chemnitz. My parents bought a semi-detached house with a large piece of … Read more
Walter talks about his family and his philosophy of life INT:So all in all what message would you give to anybody listening to your story? We are going to have a lot of school children listening. W.G:I think when you look back two thirds is attitude. I don’t want to say successful life, because I … Read more
Walter summarises his working life in Canada INT:So when you were in Canada and people said, “Who are you? Are you German, Scottish – what were you? W.G: They just assumed that I was Scottish. Well I got a job. I got a job within a couple of days, not doing what I wanted, but … Read more
Walter explains about his working life after National Service and his decision to emigrate to Canada. INT: And you were coming back up to Glasgow? W.G:Glasgow, right absolutely. INT:So when you arrived in Glasgow, what was the community like then? W.G: Well, I really wasn’t all that interested. First of all, because we really just … Read more
Walter describes his time doing National Service. He tells of a remarkable coincidence: a meeting between a British Major and his father when they were both fighting, though on different sides, in the First World War W.G:Then I did my 2 years National Service. I could have evaded because I’d been in agriculture. I could … Read more
Walter describes studying agriculture in Ayr and the challenges of his time working on a farm. He explains what happened when he got into a fight there. W.G: I was doing a year’s practical farming which was compulsory in order to get study at the West of Scotland Agriculture and get a degree in agriculture … Read more
Once in Glasgow, Walter goes to school, his mother finds work, though his father is interned on the Isle of Man. INT: Why Glasgow? WG: My father was interned in the Isle of Man right away so it was just my mother and sister and myself that were at liberty so to speak and Glasgow … Read more
With the help of a Catholic priest, the family escape from Germany. W.G: My father was released and came home and so then we immediately made an effort to get out of Germany, and to get out of Germany it was not feasible to use public transportation because it was too dangerous and with two … Read more