Born: Vienna, Austria, on 16 March 1921
Profession in country of origin: Student
Arrived in Britain as a refugee from Germany in 1939
Documents
Male enemy alien - Exemption from internment - Refugee Surname: Pories Forename: Ernst Alias: - Date and place of birth: 16/03/1921 in Vienna Nationality: German Police Regn. Cert. No.: 711 271 Home Office ref: C 1891 Address: Kitchener camp, Richborough, Sandwich, Kent Normal occupation: Student Present occupation: Gardener Name and address of employer: - Decision of tribunal: Exempted "C" & 9A Date 12.10.1939 Whether exempted from Article 6(A): Yes Whether desires to be repatriated: No Handwritten additions: Released Category 12 18/11/1940
Report of Internment
Released Category 12 18/11/1940
Name of Alien: Pories, Ernst
Date of Birth 16.03.1921
Interned on: -
Handed to: -
Reason for Internment: Circular 21/06/1940
711271
Police: MPD 'S' Division
Nationality: -
HO Number: -
Source: National Archives, Home Office: Aliens Department: Internees Index, 1939-1947.
Editor’s note: We are not allowed to reproduce National Archives (UK) images, but we are permitted to reproduce the material from them, as shown above.
Memories
Ernst was supposedly smuggled out of Vienna dressed as a boy scout and was resettled with a Jewish family in Golders Green, North London.
He went on to study engineering and designed engines for Rolls Royce; he also worked translating German into English.
Ernst met my aunt in London in the late 1940s. They married in 1950 and a photograph of them can be seen below.
My aunt and uncle lived in Wembley, and did not have any children. My aunt died of cancer in 1979. Ernst died in 1997.
Ernst did try and trace what happened to his family through the Red Cross in the 1950s, but only their luggage was discovered in Rotterdam.
It was I who found out that they had been transported in 1941 to Łódź, in Poland, where they were murdered. Ernst discovered only his uncle survived, and he went to live in Australia.
Ernst led a quiet life. He never talked about his experiences before coming to the UK. My mother would try and cook him authentic Viennese cakes, which he really appreciated. And my aunt introduced me to a lot of Eastern European cooking thanks to him.
Submitted by Penny Ling for her uncle Ernst Pories
Editor’s note: the family of Ernst Pories would very much like to hear from anyone with information about their uncle. If you know anything, please do get in touch and we will pass on your message
Photographs
Photographs submitted by Penny Ling for her uncle Ernst Pories