T H E C O V E N A N T E R
dance and so Will mainly played Glen as he now lived a quiet life and by then
Miller and Tommy Dorsey music much to was aged 71 years old. We talked a lot
the delight and satisfaction of the troops. and reminisced about the days in Bad
Once the fraternisation ban was totally
Gandershiem and the Cameronians.
lifted, Waltraut and I never missed a dance
I felt very privileged to be in his company
and it was here that we became very close
for this was the first time I had ever spoken
as a couple on the dance floor.
to him personally as during the period
Months passed by and I was demobilised
in Bad Gandresheim his time was spent
and returned to the U.K. Waltraut and I
with the Officer’s of the Cameronians.
were married in 1947 and from that time
He was possibly surprised at the impact
on we were totally locked together, having
he had made on my wife and I during
children and making a life for ourselves but
our courtship days and the fact that I had
we never forgot Will Glahe and his music
continued to show an interest in him and
and the pleasure he gave us during our
his career since that time. He had also had
courtship.
Meanwhile the Cameronians returned to
some contact with Captain Little O.B.E. of
their duties in the U.K. and this found Will
Glasgow Scotland who was retired and they
Glahe somewhat in limbo as he was still
had corresponded from time to time.
searching for the whereabouts of his wife,
During our visit, Will donned his
Josephine who was caught up and displaced
accordion and played us extracts from his
by the Russian advance. Will left Germany
latest album which was called ‘Das Goldene
for Switzerland, hoping to continue his
Akkordeon’ (The Golden Accordion) which
profession, which he did successfully.
was a jubilee recording to commemorate
Firstly in writing and composing music
his 25 year contract with Decca Records.
at his home and then he formed a large
Before we left his residence, he presented
orchestra and soon regained his former
me with an autographed copy of his album
status, playing in Zurich. During this time
and he wrote: In remembrance of you, Mr.
he was able to locate his wife and bring her
Coleman and the Cameronians. I still have
out of East Germany and they were able to
this album today and treasure it.
be together once again. On my return to Australia, I
In 1973 my wife and I, who were now corresponded regularly with him over a
living in Australia with our family decided period of 10 years and he wrote that during
to tour Europe with friends and one of the 1978 his wife Josephine had undergone a
things we wanted to do was to see if we
serious operation from which she never
could contact Will Glahe. I learned through
fully recovered. Will also had an operation
an agency that he resided in Switzerland
in 1979 and with his wife and himself in
and after contacting the police in Zurich,
ailing health he retired from his profession
who were very helpful, they gave us his
and played only for her.
address as Unterengstringen, a suburb of
He wrote to me that his wife had passed
Zurich.
away in 1984 and that he had moved
It was early afternoon when we arrived at
back to his homeland of Rhein-Breitbach
the home of Will Glahe only to find that he
where he had bought a property. He lived
was not at home but a neighbour told us he
out the rest of his life there and died on
would return with his wife at 5 p.m. from
21st November, 1989 aged 87 years. He is
Zurich where he had been performing. As
buried, along with his wife in Rhondorf in
an introduction to our visit, in his letter
box I left a ‘cutting’ from an old program
the same cemetery as Chancellor Ardeneur.
in 1945 when Will had performed with
In closing, I pay tribute to Lt. Col. J.
others in concert and this turned out to be
Alexander O.B.E. and the Cameronians in
our entry passport home.
which I was an N.C.O., for their effort and
Soon after 5 p.m. we returned and were
foresight in saving this man of music form
welcomed at the door by this maestro of
the Russians and possible imprisonment
music and his charming wife, Josephine
which enable him to continue his
and we sat down to talk and were served
illustrious career world wide.
with cognac and pretzels.
Will Glahe was pleased to know that we
‘I treasure his memory’
had come all the way from Australia to seek
him out after so many years had passed. He
R.J. Coleman
was also surprised that we had located him
Ex Sgt. 2nd Battalion Cameronians S.R.
19
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