T H E C O V E N A N T E R
your new found partner. However, by whenever we met we would sit in the hearse
this time Waltraut and I had a serious and smoke a cigarette. We would talk about
understanding. I had already proposed our family backgrounds, religious faith,
to her and we made our promises to one future plans and our star signs. We found
another in the hope that one day all would we were very compatible with Waltraut
finally fall into place and come to fruition. being a Virgo and I a Pisces.
Demobilisation had started and each Everything seemed to be going along
month a numbered group would leave the nicely until one fateful night. During the
Forces. The rapid dwindling of personnel day I had donated 1 pint of blood to our
meant that changes had to be made to Casualty Clearing Station and had arranged
cope with the control of West Germany. to meet Waltraut that evening. I felt unwell
The Military Control Commission handed after donating blood but didn’t want to
back administrative affairs and power to disappoint Waltraut and we met at our
the German people allowing them to form secret rendezvous. I was shivering and not
local and State councils, policing etc. to feeling well and we took a large black horse
control themselves and get back to some rug from the wall and covered ourselves
form of normality in their lives. This took to keep warm. I fell asleep when suddenly
much of the pressure off the Military. Soon Waltraut warned me that someone was
after this, the Gandersheim Council issued approaching from outside. The footsteps
the following orders: became louder and we quickly realised that
‘All Displaced Persons, Germans, Poles and there were two German policemen about to
otherwise must find permanent accommoda- enter our hideout. There was no escape and
tion and work or vacate the town’. we quickly covered ourselves over with the
Fortunately Waltraut had found a horse rug, lying flat in the hearse, scarcely
place to stay, as she and her cousin had daring to breathe and praying that we
previously decided not to return to the wouldn’t be detected. Alas, one policeman
Eastern Zone on advice (by letter) from shone his torch into the hearse and lifted
their parents, who themselves were waiting the horse rug. His first reaction was a
for permission to evacuate to the West. scream of surprise followed in a very loud
Shortly after this Waltraut found herself voice:
work (with no pay) in a local restaurant but ‘Mein Gott was ist hier los’ - meaning -
was given meals. This allowed her to stay in My God, what have we here!
Gandershiem and meant we could still be They had no authority over me but could
together until I was demobilised. report the matter to my Commanding
As the Fraternisation ban forbade us to Officer if they wished but Waltraut was
enter civilian houses, Waltraut and I still instructed to report to the office of the
had to find and use doorways or alley-ways Burgermeister at 10a.m. the following day.
in order to meet one another. One night I We both feared the worse, that Waltraut
was waiting in the shadows of a house for would have to leave Gandersheim. I went
Waltraut to arrive. with her to offer my support when she
It was bitterly cold and when she went to see the Burgermeister who spoke
arrived we were desperate to find a place some English. I explained my intentions
to get out of the cold. We found a building and sincerity and gave him a packet of
which looked like a stable with large doors cigarettes. Finally Waltraut was allowed to
which fortunately were not locked. It was leave but with a severe reprimand. There
very dark and I opened one of the doors is no doubt that we both learnt from this
and struck some matches to see what was experience that there is only one time to be
inside. Yes, it was a stable and I found an in a hearse
oil lamp hanging on the wall which I lit to Another few weeks passed without
see better our surroundings. To our shock incident and there were strong rumours
and amazement we saw an elaborate horse that the Fraternisation bans were about
drawn hearse. An eerie feeling came over to be lifted. We soldiers were delighted at
us as we felt it was not the place to be but the prospect and anxiously waited for this
being young, carefree and very much in to happen. At the same time the British
love helped to diminish our initial fears. Press were printing daily reports of our
We decided that surely this was a safe plight. Some articles were sympathetic
haven, after all who would like to think whilst others were not. This continued
or dare to search such a place as a hearse. on for some time and the finally the Press
It became our favourite rendezvous and were fighting for our right to fraternise and
15
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