Henry Thomas was born in Germany in the aftermath of World War II, to a German mother and a British father. His maternal grandfather and uncle had both served in the German army - the Wehrmacht, while his father fought in the British forces.

 

This 21-minute long sound collage was published on 18th July 2024, edited by Mirna Jančić Doyle, from three hours of interview recordings.

In Jančić Doyle's interpretation of their conversation, Thomas recounts the conflicting fragments of knowledge and values that he grew up with, and the moments of reckoning when, as a teenager, he faced the full scope of the Holocaust.

 

Following his experiences, Thomas has advocated for education that consciously engages with the concept of “otherness”. His lifelong career teaching English Literature, Philosophy and the History of Art has been closely interwoven with that of the United World College movement and the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. He is retired and lives in the United Kingdom.

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Due to purposeful variations in pitch and tone, this sound-collage invites active, mindful listening. 

 

The sound-collage contains references to war crimes and may not be suitable for everyone.

 

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