T H E C O V E N A N T E R
documents to the British Military Control another and said, we’ve done it, and arm in
Office where they would issue a passport arm, still smiling walked away to continue
for Waltraut’s entry to England. our tour.
I kept up my correspondence daily to
Waltraut, waiting and wondering what was Authors note:
happening” would she be allowed to come?
” had she changed her mind? Weeks and Now in our twilight years with 3 children and
months passed and it was a traumatic time their partners, 8 grandchildren and I great
for me. grandchildren on the way, we often talk of the
Then late in February 1947, some nine past and the hazards and difficulties of our
months after I had left Germany, a letter courtship days during the non-fraternisation
arrived from Germany advising me that period. Living today in a modern but more
my betrothed would arrive on March 3rd, promiscuous society I feel a sadness for the
1947 at London’s Tilbury Docks on the ship younger generation for as hard and difficult as
‘Empress Hallidale’. Waltraut was issued it was for us at the end of the war, it was an
with a two month visa during which time exciting time and I look upon our experience
she must marry or return to Germany. We after 54 years together as a fairy-tale romance
were finally married on April 30th, 1947. come true. True love does not answer to the
dictates of society, race, colour or creed. It is a
Life was difficult at first because both law unto itself and I feel that Waltraut and I
our families showed resentment to our have proved it.
union and of course the Brits who were
still smarting from the effects of the war. Ex-Sgt R.J. Coleman 909994
It became worse when the three children 2nd Bn Cameronian Scottish Rifles
came along and at school they were (now disbanded)
scorned and neighbours called them ‘little
Nazi’s’. It was a trying time but we survived
it all. Will Glahe - Played for the Cams
Later when we had saved enough A True Story
money we went back to Germany to meet By R.J. Coleman
Waltraut’s parents who were now safely
settled in West Germany. Over the next few Much has been said and written about Will
years we made many friends in England Glahe before and after World War 2 but I
and had mutual like and respect for one would like to share with you a short story
another. Seeking to go further in life, as of how I came to meet and know this man.
a family unit we decided to migrate to He was a man of music, born on February
Australia and new surroundings and have 12th, 1902 in Wuppertal, Elberfeld,
never looked back. Germany. He studied piano in Cologne and
We went back to Europe several times was often called upon to accompany such
and over the years we promised each other great singers as Richard Tauber, Gitta Alpar
that one day we would revisit what we and Joseph Schmitt in concert. He was an
fondly called, ‘our Gandersheim’. accomplished accordionist and composer.
After 30 years of marriage we finally He loved Bohemian Polka music, which
went back on July 12th, 1977, the same later was to make him famous. During
day that we had first met in 1945. We the 1930’s he went to the USA and it was
booked into a hotel which during the there that he formed a band called Dajos
Occupation had been the Battalion Bela, touring the States, Europe and Japan.
Entertainment Centre. We visited all the During this period he was crowned the
places we once knew during our courtship ‘King’ of Polka in the world of music and
days so it was obvious we would look for a later he was ranked with such great bands
stabled hearse. We walked down Barfusser as Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Payne
Kloster (Barefoot Close) and came across and Billy Cotton. During 1939 Will had
the old buildings which were all looking been playing at the Hotel Dreecen in Bad
immaculate. We found the stable and the Godesburg which later was to become the
doors were open. As we looked in there site for a last meeting between the English
was a man carefully polishing a very long, Prime Minister, Lord Chamberlain (better
black, Mercedes-Benz hearse. We paused known as the ‘Umbrella Man’) and Adolf
for a while and the man looked at us and Hitler after which time war broke out.
smiled and nodded. We then looked at one
17
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