Object numberM2019/016:017
DescriptionLetter and envelope, from A. R. Wallace the Headmaster of Sherborne School, England to Lothar Markiewicz, Camp 7, Eastern Command, Australia, 01 January 1941. The letter was sent via the Prisoner of War Service and the envelope was opened by the Censor. The correspondence was redirected to 'BASE HOSPITAL', as Lothar fell ill for eight weeks shortly after his arrival on the Dunera.
Wallace writes that he has received Lothar's address from the committee at Bloomsbury House and informs him that through Mrs Akinson's cousin, Miss Ballance they are working towards securing Lothar's release from internment in Australia to attend school there or return to England and the Sherbone School. Wallace continues that if Lothar returns by the Summer Term he would return to his old place. Wallace apologises for the trouble Lothar has gone through, stating that the country 'was very disturbed and upset last summer' and blames 'panicstricken' officials fear of the Fifth Columnists. Wallace informs Lothar that Werner Fuchs, a fellow Kindertransport child sponsored by Wallace and Sherborne School was fortunate to avoid internment in England due illness and was instead moved to the Dean Close School.
The Markiewicz Collection consists of private letters, official documents and personal papers which record the survival stories of three family members, Lotte, a single mother sending her two children, Lothar and Ellen on a Kindertransport to England, then her escape into the Berlin Underground. Ellen was looked after by Quaker families in England for the duration of the war but the teenage Lothar, aged 16, was shipped as an ‘Enemy Alien’ on the Dunera to Australia. He was rapidly released from internment and sent back to England. Light is also shed on the Quaker efforts for his release and return to England.
Lotte married Max Markiewicz, and had two children, Lothar born on 9 January 1924 and Ellen, born 18 August 1926, in Berlin. Lotte and Max separated shortly after Ellen’s birth, after which the children had limited contact with their father, usually meeting once per month. Max was murdered in Theresienstadt Ghetto 1943. Lotte survived in hiding in Berlin underground, moving to England after the war, and later settled in the United States with Ellen. Lothar married and settled in England until 1993, when he moved with his wife to Australia, to be closer to his son Michael and grandchildren.
Wallace writes that he has received Lothar's address from the committee at Bloomsbury House and informs him that through Mrs Akinson's cousin, Miss Ballance they are working towards securing Lothar's release from internment in Australia to attend school there or return to England and the Sherbone School. Wallace continues that if Lothar returns by the Summer Term he would return to his old place. Wallace apologises for the trouble Lothar has gone through, stating that the country 'was very disturbed and upset last summer' and blames 'panicstricken' officials fear of the Fifth Columnists. Wallace informs Lothar that Werner Fuchs, a fellow Kindertransport child sponsored by Wallace and Sherborne School was fortunate to avoid internment in England due illness and was instead moved to the Dean Close School.
The Markiewicz Collection consists of private letters, official documents and personal papers which record the survival stories of three family members, Lotte, a single mother sending her two children, Lothar and Ellen on a Kindertransport to England, then her escape into the Berlin Underground. Ellen was looked after by Quaker families in England for the duration of the war but the teenage Lothar, aged 16, was shipped as an ‘Enemy Alien’ on the Dunera to Australia. He was rapidly released from internment and sent back to England. Light is also shed on the Quaker efforts for his release and return to England.
Lotte married Max Markiewicz, and had two children, Lothar born on 9 January 1924 and Ellen, born 18 August 1926, in Berlin. Lotte and Max separated shortly after Ellen’s birth, after which the children had limited contact with their father, usually meeting once per month. Max was murdered in Theresienstadt Ghetto 1943. Lotte survived in hiding in Berlin underground, moving to England after the war, and later settled in the United States with Ellen. Lothar married and settled in England until 1993, when he moved with his wife to Australia, to be closer to his son Michael and grandchildren.
Production date 1941-01-01 - 1941-01-01
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- a width: 204.00 mm
a height: 255.00 mm
b width: 136.00 mm
b height: 109.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Michael Markiewicz