Object numberM2018/056:004
DescriptionPhotograph of Erna Hirsch (nee Rindler), born 16 July 1881, mother of Erich Hirsch. Date of photograph is uknown. Erna was murdered in Treblinka in October 1942.
Erich Hirsch (later known as Eric Hurst) was born 13 March 1911 in the spa town of Karlsbad in the Sudetenland. He was the second born of three children to Leopold and Erna Hirsch (nee Rindler); his older sister was Wilma Hirsch (date of birth unknown) and his younger was Anna (Annie) Hirsch, born 13 March 1915. Leopold was an optician and Erich his apprentice for 6 months in 1926. He furthered his training with Wilhelm Eckstein & Co. and in 1928 he took a position with the ‘Okularium’ working and learning until 1929 in the optical and photographic section. In 1938 he registered a trade licence to open a business specialising in optical and photographic necessities.
As Hitler occupied Sudetenland in October 1938, the Hirsch family fled to Prague leaving all of their worldly possessions behind; German troops entered Prague in March 1939. After a chance meeting with a German soldier Erich had served with in the Czech army some years before, he was able to arrange exit visas to England for himself, his wife Helen, his sister Annie and her husband Frank Heller. His older sister Wilma, her husband and young child were waiting for visas to South America and remained behind in Prague. Their papers never arrived and all three were taken to concentration camps; only Wilma survived. Both Leopold and Erna Hirsch were murdered in Treblinka in October 1942.
Erich and Helen settled in Caerphilly, Wales where he was active in the Czechoslovakian unit of the Home Guard from April 1942 to December 1944. During this period, in December 1943, Helen Hirsch died from Leukaemia. Two years later, Erich met Adi Buchsbaum via mutual friends in Bournemouth, England; they were married 22 August 1946. Their daughter Eva was born 19 September 1947 in Cardiff. The family of three, now with the surname Hurst, left Wales in August 1949 on the Orontes passenger ship bound for Sydney, Australia.
Erich Hirsch (later known as Eric Hurst) was born 13 March 1911 in the spa town of Karlsbad in the Sudetenland. He was the second born of three children to Leopold and Erna Hirsch (nee Rindler); his older sister was Wilma Hirsch (date of birth unknown) and his younger was Anna (Annie) Hirsch, born 13 March 1915. Leopold was an optician and Erich his apprentice for 6 months in 1926. He furthered his training with Wilhelm Eckstein & Co. and in 1928 he took a position with the ‘Okularium’ working and learning until 1929 in the optical and photographic section. In 1938 he registered a trade licence to open a business specialising in optical and photographic necessities.
As Hitler occupied Sudetenland in October 1938, the Hirsch family fled to Prague leaving all of their worldly possessions behind; German troops entered Prague in March 1939. After a chance meeting with a German soldier Erich had served with in the Czech army some years before, he was able to arrange exit visas to England for himself, his wife Helen, his sister Annie and her husband Frank Heller. His older sister Wilma, her husband and young child were waiting for visas to South America and remained behind in Prague. Their papers never arrived and all three were taken to concentration camps; only Wilma survived. Both Leopold and Erna Hirsch were murdered in Treblinka in October 1942.
Erich and Helen settled in Caerphilly, Wales where he was active in the Czechoslovakian unit of the Home Guard from April 1942 to December 1944. During this period, in December 1943, Helen Hirsch died from Leukaemia. Two years later, Erich met Adi Buchsbaum via mutual friends in Bournemouth, England; they were married 22 August 1946. Their daughter Eva was born 19 September 1947 in Cardiff. The family of three, now with the surname Hurst, left Wales in August 1949 on the Orontes passenger ship bound for Sydney, Australia.
Production date 1911 - 1942
Subjectimmigration, Home Guard, home front, families, professionals
Object namephotographs
Materialphotographic emulsion, paper, paper
Dimensions
- width: 90.00 mm
height: 100.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Eva Scheinberg