Holiday of a Lifetime

Author's Preface

My mother-in-law, the 'Elsie' in the story, many years ago told me some of the facts about her holiday in Germany with her elder sister in the summer of 1914. But many vital details were missing. Where did they stay? When did they arrive in Germany and when did they leave? How did they get back to England? What family were their hosts?

My recent chance discovery in old Probate papers of Elsie's 100 year old Autograph book gave me some of what I needed to know before I could start work on the story. The Book gave me some key information. A mere five entries, all but one written in German handwriting, signed and dated by each of the five host family members. These entries told me the dates of arrival and departure, that they stayed in a small town called Plon in Schleswig-Holstein, the names of each member of the family (they each signed one entry), and the occupation of the father-Postmaster- which I have confirmed through the Plon Tourist Office is correct.

Now that I had some concrete facts to build on I was at last able with some confidence to research those areas where information was poor or mising. The rapid approach of the 100th Anniversary of the start of WW1 also acted as a stimulus! A study of the origins of the disastrous War told me of callous behaviour of government officials of the time coupled with the deliberate misinformation they gave to the Austrian Emperor and German Kaiser to persuade them to declare war in August 1914. A tourist guide to Plon from the local Tourist Office confirmed the layout of this popular holiday resort and, finally, access to reports in the British press of the repatriation process in late September 1914 confirmed the route the 'enemy aliens' of both sides were directed to take to get back home safely.

This book tells their story.

John H Pollard.