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Posted: Wednesday 12 September 2007

Witness to War

by Claire Singerman, History

June was a very busy month for Bob Kutner. Fitting us in between a holiday and one of his retirement occupations as a voluntary social worker, he visited the History Department four times in one week to share his war time adventures with S2 pupils.

Over My Shoulder is Bob Kutner's autobiography.

Bob spent the war years on the move, fleeing Germany to escape Nazi persecution. Our pupils sat fascinated as he told his story. Picking up European languages as he travelled, Bob moved with his family first to France, then to Switzerland, on from there to Italy, where he was arrested as a spy, and finally escaped to London, where he joined the British Army.

Bringing the circle of his travels back to where he began, he ended his military career in Intelligence, interrogating German prisoners of war.

The History Department’s policy of introducing our pupils, wherever possible, to those who lived through the momentous years of the last century has been most successful. No one who heard Bob speak will ever forget the twinkle in his eye as he described escapades worthy of the Boy's Own Paper! 

Tags: History, Secondary

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