Born in Vienna in 1926, Walter Hromatka, a radioman in the German Navy, became a prisoner-of-war during WW II. He was a policeman in Austria for five years prior to immigrating to Canada in 1951. He cut pulpwood, laid rails, worked in sawmills and ran a logging tug, then served for 30 years as a radio operator with the Ministry of Transport. His postings included Prince Rupert, Arctic weather stations (Eureka and Alert), Williams Lake, the weathership St. Catharines and finally Smithers. He self-published his memoirs from his home in Smithers as One Hand On The Ladder: An Austrian Comes Home To Canada (Magpie Ink, Sandhill Marketing, 2001 $26.95).

[BCBW 2004] "Austrian"