While news about Kitchener continues to spread – ‘getting the word out’ is a painstaking task.
One of the difficulties is that many families don’t know anything much – or at all – about the Kitchener rescue, so they are not even searching for information about it.
Somehow, we have to find them.
It’s always fantastic when folk take up this baton and people’s ingenuity and enthusiasm keep pushing the project outwards. It’s amazing to hear about networks of family, friends, and colleagues spreading the word.
There is something highly motivating for many about this shared history, and this extraordinary Kitchener narrative …
The latest we’re hearing is that B’nai Brith International, which so kindly put out a free advertisement for us last year, has now commissioned a writer to do an article about the Kitchener history.
Many thanks indeed to B’nai Brith for your continuing support!
And sincere thanks to a Kitchener man’s son for doing the work behind the scenes to make this happen.
…………………………………
I mentioned a little while ago that a Kitchener group was hoping to coordinate to meet in the USA and that is now going ahead.
If you live ‘locally’ and would like to be put in touch, please let me know.
The US meet-up includes a talk from Frank Mecklenburg, Director of Research and Chief Archivist at Leo Baeck Institute (I’m hardly jealous at all!). There are some smaller meet-ups being arranged among those living too far from NYC to attend Frank’s talk.
We’re also hoping to meet some US Kitchener families when we hold our exhibition later this year (watch this space for details!). Some folk we will be meeting for a second time, as a number have already flown over for various events and some come over just to say hello – it’s an incredible experience for everyone involved.
…………………………………………..
Identification of KC men in photographs
Please do check the group photographs page from time to time, in case you spot your relative. And please let me know if you recognise someone, so I can tell the family who is in the photograph with their relative.
I will be doing an update on these group pictures early next week: https://kitchenercamp.co.uk/group-photographs/
One American gentleman asks whether anyone has seen an image of his father in their photographs from this time – he is pictured below during his stay in Britain.
According to British National Archives records, Alfred Frisch was born in Rostock in 1908.
He was interned in Britain in summer 1940 – as were so many thousands of Kitchener men.
He was released without restriction in summer 1941.
……………………………………….
If your father or grandfather was interned in Britain, you might like to join us at the Wiener Library for a talk on the wartime internment of Jewish refugees.
We are meeting at the Wiener Library in London on 11 April – from 6pm for a 6.30pm start.
All are welcome and tickets are available through Eventbrite at this link:
Hope to see you there!