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My mother’s sister married a German, who worked as headwaiter at the Metropole Hotel Brighton in around 1910. In 1912 a son was born.

1914 war was declared between Britain and Germany. Uncle Herman Von Berg was intern in the Isle of Man for the duration.

1918 Uncle Herman, Aunty May and Stanley went back to Germany, it was impossible for Herman to find work in England. The British people were hostile to Germans at that time.

Back in Germany, it was no better for employment; Aunty may being a dressmaker managed enough monies to survive. A daughter, Margar was born, then another son, Walter.

1936 Hitler came into power. Stanley would have had to join the German Army. Having been born in England he couldn’t obtain a British Passport and he came over.

1939 Sept 3rd war was declared, Britain against Germany. Stanley was called up for the British Army, being fluent in German he was in Intelligence Corps.

1943 Walter had to join the German Army. Brother fighting Brother, but they never met. In 1944 Walter was captured by the Canadians at Cean Normandy. He was transported to Scotland as a P.O.W, Prisoner of War.

1945. End of war with Germany. Walter did not learn English, as his sister Margar did, from his mother. But he learnt a little English in P.O.W Camp. He knew he had relatives in Brighton; he posted a postcard to my relatives in Brighton (no names) signed Walter Von Berg. Brighton Post Office handed the card to the Brighton Evening Argus, who published same. Another of my mother’s sisters obtained the card from Walter and contact was made.

Consequence was my father obtained permission for Walter to serve the rest of his P.O.W time on his Market Garden.

Myself having been discharged after service in the Royal navy in September 1946, we worked and socialised together as brothers. Walter had to report to the British Army Authorities in Horsham once a month, when I took him there on my motorbike. In time Walter was repatriated sometime in 1948.

His mother, Aunty May came to us all in England; we were enlightened to their ordeal during the war in Germany. People under Fascist regime dare not breathe a word against the regime of total oppression of deed and speech, for the fear of being taken to concentration camp, where they were tortured and nobody came out alive.

Herman and May knew that the Nazi Regime was wrong, but dare not say to anyone, not even to their own children (who had to join the Hitler youth, all was indoctrinated to Nazi Nationalism) for their family safety.

Herman listened to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ radio throughout the war years of forced oppression; it was lucky he did not get caught.

Herman and May were able to live the rest of their lives at peace. Walter married and had a son in Germany. Margar married and also had a son in Germany. Stanley married in England and had two daughters, and he had his father’s job as Head Waiter at the Hotel Metropole in Brighton.

John Mills

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