Travels with my Father during the late Weimarer Republik-period

21. November 2024 20:00

Howard Gater-Smith

In the late 1920’s and early 30’s, my father Harry, travelled widely throughout Germany. His interests lay in art, music (particularly Wagner), architecture and contact with the „locals“.

He recorded these journeys, thoughts and observations in travel diaries, illustrated with photos and picture postcards . Sometimes he would journey alone but one occasion with a small group of like-minded travellers.

I will read extracts from his recordings which will be illustrated with pictures of the time.

Howard Gater-Smith was born in 1944 at Westcliff-Sea, Essex. He joined the army in 1962, serving firstly in armoured reconnaissance in Germany, Aden, Malaysia and Borneo. Further service in Germany from 1966-68 was followed by helicopter pilot training. On qualification he was posted to Münster, thereafter serving in the UK, Belize, Cyprus and lastly Detmold. His interests include gardening, picture-framing and travel.