Early Years
Edgar had a brother called Herbert who shared the same birthday but was 6 years older. The Benjamin family lived a happy life in Breslau with many relatives living close by.
The Nazi Rise to Power
When the Nazi’s seized power of Germany in 1933 things started to change for the worse. The Nazi’s implemented their anti-Semitic ideology and policies and the Jewish community was increasingly persecuted. About 60% of Jews emigrated during the first six years of the Nazi dictatorship. In 1933, persecution of the Jews became an official Nazi policy. In 1935 and 1936 the pace of anti-Semitic persecution increased. In 1936 Jews were banned from all professional jobs, effectively preventing them from participating in education, politics, higher education and industry. The SS ordered the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht) which took place between 9th-10th November 1938. The store fronts of Jewish shops and offices were smashed and vandalized and many synagogues were destroyed by fire. This prompted a wave of Jewish mass emigration from Germany throughout the 1930s. There were only approximately 214,000 Jews left in Germany (1937 borders) by the eve of World War II.
Edgar’s father, Georg, was arrested and sent to Buchenwald Concentration Camp on 12th November 1938. It is not known where Edgar’s brother Herbert was around this time – but at the age of 16 it’s likely he was also arrested.
During his father’s imprisonment, his mother Stefanie was desperately trying to find a route out of Germany for her youngest son Edgar who had just turned 10 years old.
The Kindertransport
Fortunately, a program called ‘Kindertransport’ was created.
The Kindertransport (Children Transport) started directly after Kristallnacht and was a process where children under 18 would be transported to safety in other countries. It was largely financed by the Refugee Children’s Movement and the Central British Fund for German Jewry. The aim was for them to be taken in by foster families or relatives until they could be returned to their parents at the end of the war. The majority of the children did not see their families again.
Stefanie applied for a place for Edgar on the Kindertransport and fortunately he left Germany on the first evacuation. The organisation generally favoured children whose emigration was urgent because their parents were in concentration camps or no longer able to support them.
The first transport arrived three weeks after Kristallnacht in Harwich, Great Britain, on December 2nd 1938 with nearly 200 children on board. Edgar’s father, Georg, was held in Buchenwald Camp until 2nd December 1938 – the same date that Edgar arrived in England. Edgar had not seen his father since his imprisonment in Buchenwald.
It must have been very confusing for Edgar at 10 years old to be sent away without his family into a strange country where he knew no-one. He would have already been very traumatised since his father and brother had been arrested and taken away only days earlier. There are many records of tears and screaming at the various train-stations where the actual parting took place. Even older children, more willing to accept the parent(s) ‘explanation’, would at some point realise that they would be separated from their parents for a long and indefinite time. That final departure was the last time that Edgar saw his mother.
Arrival in England
Most children arrived in England with little idea of what lay in store for them. They waited at train stations to be picked up, wearing numbers around their necks so they could be identified. Children who didn’t have foster families were sent to boarding houses or hostels.
Upon arriving into Harwich, Edgar would have been met by the cold December weather and was swiftly transported to the Warner’s Holiday Camp in Dovercourt. The camp provided the evacuated children with a base to begin adjusting to their new life in England. Living in small wooden huts the children were provided with basic provisions in blankets and hot water bottles – however their accommodation was freezing in the winter by the North Sea Coast. The Dovercourt Camp housed many of the children that arrived in England and taught them their first lesson in the English language. Children ate their meals in the communal dining halls and participated in group activities such as traditional singing and games.
Scotland
Edgar stayed in the Dovercourt Bay Camp until 6th February 1939 when he was then sent to various hostels and foster families in Scotland.
Edgar sent a number of handwritten letters to his parents following his arrival in England and Scotland. In some of these he asks how they both are and also describes how he doesn’t like the way he’s being treated and that it’s not as good as being in Germany. It’s difficult to imagine what it must have been like as a 10-year-old, alone in a foreign country. Having to learn a new language in a situation where the German language was not understood would have been stressful. To have to learn to live with strangers, who only spoke English, and accept them as “pseudo-parents” was a trauma.
(Edgar is bottom row, 2nd from left)
Reunited
In July 1939 Edgar’s father Georg left Germany as a condition of his release from Buchenwald concentration camp and was sent to Kitchener Camp in Sandwich Kent. This camp had been set up by The Central British Fund, a Jewish aid organisation in the UK now known as World Jewish relief who persuaded the British government to admit some refugees. Adult men were brought to the UK on condition they would not be granted UK citizenship, they must not work, and they must emigrate onwards to the US, Australia and elsewhere. The following year there was an opportunity for Georg to join the British Army and on 5th January 1940 Georg joined the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps in Richborough . Now that his Edgar’s father was in England he was able to request regular leave from the Pioneer Corps and visit his son Edgar in Scotland.
In 1943 Georg was discharged from the British Army on health reasons and this allowed him to move to Scotland and set up home with his son Edgar in Bonnybrigg and in 1945 they moved to York, England. Georg had made attempts to discover the fate of his wife and Edgar’s mother Stefanie but all reports from Germany indicated that she had perished during the holocaust.
The following information was taken from a document created by the Refugee Children’s Movement. There are regular updates on Edgar’s life and placements from his arrival in 1938 until 1948. During this time Edgar lived in hostels and with foster families. It also includes the period when he lived with his father in Scotland and York. During Edgar’s early years in Scotland he was moved several times, addresses included Skelmorlie, Lasswade and Bonnybrigg.
REFUGEE CHILDRENS MOVEMENT DOCUMENT
Left camp on 6th February 1939 and went to 102 South Portland Street, Glasgow C5 (Raschkind)
19/5/1939: From the Die Beratungsstelle der Synagogen-Gemeinde Breslau
To Mrs. Eziner – re Edgar going into a hostel or home where he would receive the necessary education for his future career
31/5/1939: To Mrs. Levvy, From Provincial after care department – re Edgar being removed from his present abode – to enable him to getting better training to fit him for the future.
From Mrs. Brunt to German Dept. – Stating the German Jewish Aid Committee in Glasgow had reported that Edgar had been removed into a Hostel – as he had not fitted in happily to the Raschkind family
20/6/1939: A report from the Glasgow German Aid Committee – stating that Edgar had been placed in a hostel.
Jan 1941: Health is good
1st April 1943: Welfare Report:
Health: Good, but very sensitive and highly strung. Has had jaundice within last 3 months. Local doctor is in regular attendance & dental supervision by Dr. Schneider of Edinburgh
Education: Attends Bonnyrigg Junior Secondary School. Standard of English is only ‘fair’ but improving. Attends evening classes in P.T. and woodwork.
Religious Tn: Received from resident master at school.
Parents: Father: Georg Benjamin, British Army, 77 COY, P.6. Long Marston, Near Stratford-on-Avon
Remarks: Edgar is receiving a general domestic and as far as possible agricultural training. His recreations are of a cultural and athletic nature.
NOTE: In Lasswade, the accommodation was a so-called agricultural school, where they spent half a day doing various agricultural work, and the other half visited the junior secondary school in the next town, Bonnyrigg.
March 1943: A report from Polton House on Edgar (report is not available)
** In July 1943 Edgar’s father, Georg, was discharged from the British Army on health grounds and this allowed him to move to Bonnyrigg and set up home with Edgar. They finally moved to York in 1946. **
26.6.46: Dossier Received by region 2
27.6.46: Wrote to Mr. Benjamin welcoming Edgar and himself to region. Please approach us if we can help – glad to see you if ever in Leeds.
1.7.46: Edgar called, nice boy, well mannered, rather pale and thin. Has lost his employment in York, but is determined to continue his training as a photographer. Went with him to the L.E. who had no vacancies, gave him more addresses and he would keep us informed as to the result.
Edgar called at the office several times during searching Leeds for employment. Eventually decided to try Manchester – gave him a letter of introduction to Mrs. Pogmore.
(Edgar is now working as a photographer for Edward Stuart Princess Street Stockport and lives at 27 Smedley Lane Cheetham Manchester.)
8.8.46: Mrs. Pogmore informed us Edgar has employment in Manchester – living at J.R.C. hostel there. Dossier forwarded.
15.8.46: Dossier received in Region 10.
1.4.47: Edgar called. Said he wants to change employment, no chance of progress with present firm. Wants introduction to illustrated press. Gave him address of Bernard GOLDBERG who was at same hostel and is now in London in photography and working with press,
7.5.47: Manchester Police made enquiries with regard Edgar’s naturalization (with father)
16.12.47: Edgar informed us he volunteered to join R.A.F. had his medical (A.1) and was waiting for call up.
Letter dated 13th January 1948 – unsuccessful application to RAF
8.2.48: From Edgar – has not been accepted by R.A.F. is working at R.A.O.C depot (Royal Army Ordinance Corps) outside York, temporary job. Wants to get into Merchant Navy.
10.5.48: From Edgar. Has been in London on holiday, looking for a job and digs. Found job but no lodgings. Can we help.
11.5.48: Postcard to Edgar. No contacts now in London. Get in touch again with Mr. Fitch. Could not he stay with Alez Spira for a few days?
13.5.48: From Mr. Fitch. Edgar had called at office, had found job etc. Please send folder.
27.7.48: Boy called. Seems in difficulties with his landlady – asked for loan of £3-0-0. Discussed with Mrs. Hardisty, agreed to lend the money, repayments to be made weekly to Miss Feldman
END OF REPORT
Joining the Palestinian Army
On 14th August 1948 Edgar travelled to Palestine/Israel at 19 years old to fight in the 1948 Arab/Palestine War. He was part of the 7th Brigade in the Israeli army (IDF). He also met up with his brother Herbert who was still in Israel after being discharged from the British Army.
Edgar returned from Israel at some point in 1949 (the war ended in March 1949).
A New Life In York
The following text is an English translation of a German letter written by Edgar which was found in his suitcase. It was written around 1953.
My name is Edgar Fritz Benjamin. I currently live at 73 Heslington Road, York. I was born in Breslau (Germany, Silesiawho) on 20 Sep 1928. I am Jewish and now living in York
My parents, Georg Benjamin, who now lives in York, and Stefanie Benjamin (born Loew) were German nationals.
My father had a good business in Breslau and wanted to give me and my brother Herbert (we are the only children of our parents) an appropriate education.
That’s why I began school at the primary school in Zimpel – a suburb of Breslau (now known as Sępolno). However, being a Jew I had to leave that school after a short
time. After that I enlisted at the private Jewish school ‘Am Anger in Breslau’ until my eviction from Germany at the end of 1938.
My father was arrested during the upheavals in November 1938 (so-called Reichskristallnacht) and was deported to the concentration camp of Buchenwald. Being a Jew he had to give up his business early in 1938.
At the end of 1938, my parents had no choice but to send me to
England. I arrived alone on 2nd December 1938.
At first a Jewish agency looked after me and then I spent some time with a Glaswegian family. After that I stayed at a children’s home for exiled Jewish children. However, after war broke out. I was sent to numerous places. Therefore, no sensible and continuous education was possible.
Since it was impossible to get a higher education either in Germany (for obvious reasons) or Britain (because I had to work for a living from a very young age), I was hampered considerably in my future earning potential.
In July 1939 my father came from Germany to live in Britain. At this time, he was conscripted to the British Army directly from Kitchener Camp. He was demobbed in 1943 and took residence in Bonnyrigg, Scotland.
In 1944 I went to live with him. It was then when I became an apprentice in a photographic atelier. However, in 1945 we
both moved to York and I am working now as an engraver earning 8 pounds a week.
My mother was denied any possibility of emigration and because of that was deported during the war from Breslau. She has been missing ever since. As an underage son I adopted British citizenship at the same time as my father did in 1947, in his case, to naturalization.
Since 1st October 1953 I have lived in York.
I was not able to finish my education in Germany.
The next record I can find is from his employment at Vickers Ltd in York from 2nd November 1955 until 1965/1966 approximately. He worked as an Engraver and lived alone in York.
Marriage
During the early 1960’s Edgar met Maureen Ryan who was working as a nurse in York. They began courting and spent many happy times together.
In 1966 Edgar married Maureen. The wedding took place on 25th July 1966 at St. George’s Roman Catholic Church in York. The reception was held in the City Arms Hotel. Edgar’s best man was Gerald Hanson.
Edgar and Maureen spent their honeymoon in Austria.
In 1969 they moved to 4 Stirling Grove in the Fulford area of York.
Family Life
On 23rd January 1970 they welcomed their first child into the world – Suzanne Mary Benjamin. The following year, on 18th November 1971, George Edward Benjamin was born.
By now Edgar was self-employed working as a Professional Photographer based at 73 Heslington Road. He had a photo studio downstairs in the property and the flat upstairs was rented out to Tony and Lena Goldsmith.
Edgar specialised in wedding photography but also did a lot of photography work for the British Army at Catterick Garrison. Photography had been an early passion of Edgar’s and he had finally been able to make a good living from it.
Edgar and family regularly travelled to Ireland to visit Maureen’s family and Edgar had always planned to take his family to meet his cousins in Belgium (Heinz Benjamin) and to Israel (Manfred Benjamin). In the summer of 1981 Edgar, Maureen, Suzanne and George visited Heinz Benjamin and his family in Belgium.
However, a few months after returning from Belgium and just a few days after celebrating his 53rd birthday Edgar suffered a heart attack and was rushed to hospital on 24th September 1981. After a stay of 3 weeks he was discharged from hospital to return to his family on 14th October to continue his recovery but on 17th October he was rushed back to hospital and died within a few hours on 18th October 1981 aged 53 years old. His death certificate states cause of death as Cardiac Arrest / Myocardial Infarction.
Suzanne was 10 years old and George was 9 years old.
Edgar is buried in Fulford Cemetery York.
