Object numberM2019/039:010
DescriptionSmall prayer book belonging to Alfred Stocks, which he took with him on a kindertransport from Berlin to Australia in 1939.
Alfred Stocks (formerly Rohrstock) was born in Berlin on 23 August 1930, the only child of Herbert and Gertrud Rohrstock. Following Kristallnacht, 9 – 10 November 1938, his parents decided to leave Berlin, but could not obtain a visa for America or Australia. Instead, Alfred was sent alone on a kindertransport to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on the SS Orama in June 1939. He was 9 years old. Herbert and Gertrud managed to escape Germany for Shanghai later in 1939.
Alfred, along with 16 other children from the kindertransport, lived in a big house in Melbourne under the strict care of a woman named Ursula. He was cared for on occasion by his uncle, Martin Selley (Gertrud’s half-brother), who lived in Coogee, Sydney. Herbert and Gertrud lived in the Jewish Quarter in Shanghai until 1946, when they were able to come to Sydney.
This prayer book is part of a collection of items related to Alfred Stocks and his parents, Herbert and Gertrud Rohrstock.
Alfred Stocks (formerly Rohrstock) was born in Berlin on 23 August 1930, the only child of Herbert and Gertrud Rohrstock. Following Kristallnacht, 9 – 10 November 1938, his parents decided to leave Berlin, but could not obtain a visa for America or Australia. Instead, Alfred was sent alone on a kindertransport to Australia, arriving in Melbourne on the SS Orama in June 1939. He was 9 years old. Herbert and Gertrud managed to escape Germany for Shanghai later in 1939.
Alfred, along with 16 other children from the kindertransport, lived in a big house in Melbourne under the strict care of a woman named Ursula. He was cared for on occasion by his uncle, Martin Selley (Gertrud’s half-brother), who lived in Coogee, Sydney. Herbert and Gertrud lived in the Jewish Quarter in Shanghai until 1946, when they were able to come to Sydney.
This prayer book is part of a collection of items related to Alfred Stocks and his parents, Herbert and Gertrud Rohrstock.
Production placeGermany
Production date 1930 - 1939
Object nameprayer books
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 80.00 mm
width: 173.00 mm
height: 117.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mildred Stocks