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1937 — We lived in Czechoslovakia. My father worked in the Vitkowitz Iron and Steel Works, owned by one of the Rothschilds. Because my father was very friendly with some of the Jewish employees many of his co-workers stopped talking to him. When Jewish Mr Loewy came from Schlomannes in Germany looking for designers of Rolling Mills in order to start an Iron and Steel Firm in England, he agreed to an offer of a job in London.

My father left home in spring 1937 and Mr Loewy arranged the transfer of my mother, sister and myself plus all our furniture in the autumn of 1937.

After the start of the Blitz, Mr Loewy moved the Firm to Branksome near Bournemouth.

In 1940 my father was interned in Huyton, Liverpool as an enemy alien. Shortly afterwards my mother, sister and myself were also interned on the Isle of Man. I was 8 years old. After a few months Mr Loewy managed to get my father released, as he needed him for valuable war work. My father went to the Police on his return and refused to work till my mother, sister and myself were also released. Shortly afterwards the internees on the Isle of Man were transported to Canada on the Arandora Star. The boat was torpedoed and very few internees survived.

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