Writing for Fun
September 2015
A Hidden Story - Diane Silverston
Janek was sitting hunched over the large leather chest, with disorganised piles of artefacts and papers all around him. He was hunched because he was in the small attic of the house that had been his grand-parents home for 75 years. He had lived there for most of his early life, but had never been into the attic before, there had been no need, and it was so small. He had gone to live there, to be looked after when his parents had been lost at sea in a boating accident, when he was 10. Now he was 40. His grand-mother had died 5 years ago, and his grand-father 2 weeks ago. Now Janel had the job of sorting out the house and selling up. Not a pleasant task, but it had to be done.
Now he was sitting hunched in the attic, leaning over the large leather chest. The initials on it were P.T.G. His grand-father's name was Gregory Paul Golden. So who did this belong to? At first nothing had made sense, but slowly artefacts appeared that Janek recognised. A seven branched candlestick, a material wrapped scroll, and other articles that showed a connection to the Jewish faith. What was the significance? As far as Janek knew none of his family had Jewish connections.
Janek put these things aside and started to look at the papers and books. Someone named Pietre kept being named. Was it the owner of the chest?
He found a certificate of a wedding between Pietre Thiery Golden and Marika Joanna Brecca, in Amsterdam in 1915. Could this be his Great grand-parents? Had his family lived in Holland at one time?
He delved into the chest and pulled out a diary. It had his grand-father's name on it.
Suddenly 2 photographs fell out of it, a windmill and a boat. He turned them over, found 'home 1930' on the back of the windmill picture. He looked at the front more carefully, there was a family. Parents and 3 children in front of the mill. Were they his family? His grandfather would have been about 10, possibly the youngest child?
He then turned over the other photo. 'leaving Rotterdam 1940". Were they sailing across the Channel? But why? Then Janek thought . . . if the family were Jewish they would need to get away from Holland, and to safety.
He decided to leave his sorting for now. He picked up the 2 photos and the diary. He climbed out of the attic and downstairs to the kitchen, where he settled himself at the table and opened the diary dated 1940. As he turned the pages his grand-father's story unfolded. How the life of the family had been fraught with danger and sadness.
December 1939 – the worst time in my life so far. What is for many a festive and happy time has turned to a time of mistrust and unkindness. Neighbours against neighbours. Spying on each other and telling tales. The Germans have advanced across our land and now our nearest town is under their rule. People are being moved from their homes and jobs. My father and older brother Frank have been conscripted into the army and we have had no contact with them for 2 months now. I avoided conscription because of my injured leg but I am sure they will be back for me, then what will happen to my mother and sister Bernadette and the farm?
The weather is terrible which makes it hard for any travelling, and we are gradually becoming cut off from the rest of our country.
January 1940 – still no news of father or Frank. Mother is becoming more worried and depressed each day. She can remember the devastating effects of the last war. She is also concerned about what will happen when I have to go.
I have heard from Marianne that the situation in Amsterdam is even worse than here. Vast numbers of Jews have lost their jobs and been moved to the Ghetto areas. She is very worried for her father, mother and sister Suzanna, but is unable to get away from her job in Rotterdam. We are due to be married in June, but I wonder if we should move it forward?
February 1940 – the snow has gone and the weather is improving, but the news is getting worse. We are now hearing of many Jews being transported by train, not only from our cities but from all over Europe. No-one really seems to know where they are being taken to. In our nearby town, the German officials are becoming quite ruthless, their rules are so strict and people's freedom is being so restricted. People here are finding it harder to get the food they need, and we hear that in the cities it is worse. Marianne has still not heard anything from her family, but tells me that news is coming out of Amsterdam of people starving in the Ghetto areas. She is so worried.
March 1940 – things have come to a head. There is news that the Germans are now back to conscript more men into their army. My leg has healed and I realise that as a Jew and a young man I am in a vulnerable position. My mother is growing weaker and more confused, so I think it is time we got out of here. I have decided to pack up and go to Rotterdam with Mother and Bernadette and join Marianne, leaving a message for father and Frank in a safe place in the windmill.
April 1940 – we, Marianne and I, are married, and we are all together in her small flat. Still we have no news of Father or Frank, or of Marianne's family. It will not be safe here for us for long. Mother is now quite ill and Bernadette is nursing her. Marianne and I have decided to try and get to England, find a home and then get the others to join us, fortunately we have some friends here who will help them once we have left.
May 1940 – we have managed to get 2 passenger tickets on a vessel leaving Rotterdam for Harwich in 2 days time. After a sad farewell to Mother and Bernadette, Marianne and I have made our way to the dock area and are now on board the 'Lady Jane', a sloop carrying 20 passengers and 5 crew. Very cramped but hopeful only a short journey.
June 1940 – finally we are safely settled in a small house in Harwich after a stormy passage. We were met by some kind fishing folk who helped us find shelter and jobs in their community. We are happy here, but say very little about our former life. I am working on a farm and bakery nearby and Marianne is serving in a shop and doing alterations to clothes. We hope soon to have enough money to be able to pay the passenger fares for my mother and sister. We have written to them explaining everything.
July 1940 – devastating news. We have heard from our friends in Rotterdam that my mother has died. She became so weak that nothing could be done for her. Bernadette is with them and at present working. She has changed her surname to theirs in the hope it will keep her from being noticed as a Jew by the Germans. There has been no news of Father, Frank or Marianne's family.
August 1940 – Marianne is pregnant. That is the only good news we have. We have heard nothing from Rotterdam now for some weeks.
Sept 1940 – finally a letter from Holland, but from a gentleman we don't know. He states that his partner in the law firm has received information that Hans Dreaker and his family have been arrested by the Germans and transported. This is frightening news, Hans was our friend and as far as we knew, although married he had no children. We fear the worst. Have Bernadette, Hans and his wife been sent to a German camp? We have heard about these in the news here.
Oct/Nov 1940 - no news about either family. We are now here on our own with no connections to our friends or family in Holland.
Xmas 1940 – my son Peter Frank (after my father and brother) was born today, 24th December. We are proud parents but there is a tinge of sadness in our hearts that we cannot tell our families the good news.
Janek's eyes were filled with tears as he finished reading. What could have happened to the others? How could he find out?
Just then he looked up and noticed the black leather book on the mantelpiece. He had never been allowed to touch it. Why? What was it? He took it down . . . his grandfather's Bible. He opened the cover . . . there was the rest of the story . . .
As Janek looked at his grandfather's notes, he felt a lump in his throat and an ache in his heart. What sad reading it made. So many people lost because of their faith or family history. Of course Janek had read about the German camps but had no idea his family were involved. His Grandfather and Grandmother had kept it hidden for so long. What had made them leave their Jewishness behind? Did they think it would be safer? Now he would never know.
Janek decided to take the diary, photographs and Bible with him. He'd come another day to finish the clearing up. Now he needed to go home, tell his family the story and add some more information to the family tree.
