Description
The author (born in February 1935) and his parents fled Nazi Germany in 1939, after his father had been incarcerated for six weeks in a concentration camp. They made their way to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where the family eventually settled in the town of Gatooma. Peter describes his reminiscences of life prior to departing Nazi Germany, the World War II era and the post-war years that followed. Five years as a boarder at Prince Edward School in Salisbury followed thereafter (1947–1951) and his experiences at ‘P.E.’ the largest boy’s high school in the country are vividly described and documented.
This book, amply illustrated, releases a flood of memories of what it was like to live in the ‘old’ Rhodesia – the strip roads then still in use, visits to the ‘bioscope’, witnessing Rhodesia’s contribution to the Allied war effort, sporting heroes of that generation and much more …
About Peter
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AnneS –
Various comments received by Hermoine (Peter’s wife)
The design of the book cover by Tamara is impressive, and very telling.
I am enjoying reading it. It brings back all sorts of memories – like sleeping under mosquito nets. I’d quite forgotten that period in our lives, and am wondering when we stopped having to sleep under nets.
What a delightful sense of humour Peter had, and all too often at his own expense.
I enjoyed reading Peter’s book.
He must have had an amazing memory to remember the hundreds or thousand or so facts mentioned in his book.
He especially liked and became very knowledgeable about boxing and aeroplanes.
The book covers his life from early childhood until he finished high-school. During those years he lived in Gatooma and Salisbury, Rhodesia.
Since Rhodesia and South Africa were both part of the British Commonwealth, Peter living in Rhodesia and you and I in Witbank, South Africa, we all grew up under the same British system of education, holidays, customs etc.
I therefore could relate to many of the events mentioned in Peter’s book.
A great book. Reminded me not only of a lot of old friends but also forgotten Rhodesiana such as bioscope, sanitary lanes, PK, sucide month, chongololo, bok bok, suicide month etc etc. A really good read.