http://www.kindertransport.org
Born in Vienna, 1926 to a Christian mother and a Jewish father then living in Berlin Gabrielle remembers clearly the strange noises one day in 1934. This was Hitler’s first attempt to annex Austria. Although not successful Hitler did manage to assassinate the Chancellor of Austria. Gay’s grandmother, worried about her education, moved her to become a weekly border at a Catholic School, however the nuns were stopped from teaching and for the first time Gabby knew she was different, having to wear a yellow star. Now a target she was spat at, called names and had things thrown at her. On November 11th, the night before her 11th birthday, the Nazi’s went on the rampage, this was later to be called GUSTAGNACHT – the night of the broken glass. This was in retaliation to a young Jewish man assassinating the German ambassador in Paris.
The Quakers in England gathered support, approached the UK government asking if they would accept unaccompanied children into the UK and so the Kindertransport train was born. Over 10 000 children were delivered safely to the UK, with only a soft toy, suitcase and a name label around their neck. Taking 10 hours to reach Holland the children were frightened and for many didn’t understand what was happening. Fed and watered by the Dutch people on arriving in the UK Gabby was placed with a family in Aldershot, where originally, she was very happy. At this time, as like any child, Gabby experienced a mixture of excitement and anxiety.
