Object numberM2020/001:004
DescriptionPostcard to Edith Colebrook (nee Selig) in England from her mother Elsa in Hamburg, on 29 July 1939.
Edith was born on 9 October 1916 in Unna, Germany, to Otto Selig and Elsa (nee Horwitz). Otto was a cattle-dealer and a soldier during the First World War. Edith escaped to England in early 1939, where she worked as a paediatric nurse at Burslem Haywood and Tunstall War Memorial Hospital. Her sister Ruth Loewenstein and brother-in-law Erich Loewenstein also managed to escape, immigrating to New York in 1939. The rest of her family still living in Germany were all murdered in the Holocaust. Early in the war, Edith’s father Otto was deported to Poland, though the details of his death are unknown.
This postcard is part of a collection of correspondence that Edith received from her mother and her sister between 1939 and November 1941. Elsa eagerly requested news about all areas of her daughter’s life and tried to support her from afar. In this postcard she asked about Edith’s progress with English and conveyed news about family and friends in Germany, in particular the news that Ruth would be going to America.
On 4 December 1941, Elsa was deported to Riga in Latvia, along with her sister Laura Mosbach (nee Horwtiz). They were both murdered there on 6 December 1941. Edith did not receive confirmation of her mother’s death until February 1946.
In the same year, she met her husband, Frederic Kolbrych (formerly Kohn). Frederic was from Prague and had served in the Czech Foreign Legion during the war. They married in a Synagogue in Hanley, Staffordshire, on 10 July 1946. They immigrated to Australia in 1948 and changed their name from Kolbrych to Colebrook.
Edith was born on 9 October 1916 in Unna, Germany, to Otto Selig and Elsa (nee Horwitz). Otto was a cattle-dealer and a soldier during the First World War. Edith escaped to England in early 1939, where she worked as a paediatric nurse at Burslem Haywood and Tunstall War Memorial Hospital. Her sister Ruth Loewenstein and brother-in-law Erich Loewenstein also managed to escape, immigrating to New York in 1939. The rest of her family still living in Germany were all murdered in the Holocaust. Early in the war, Edith’s father Otto was deported to Poland, though the details of his death are unknown.
This postcard is part of a collection of correspondence that Edith received from her mother and her sister between 1939 and November 1941. Elsa eagerly requested news about all areas of her daughter’s life and tried to support her from afar. In this postcard she asked about Edith’s progress with English and conveyed news about family and friends in Germany, in particular the news that Ruth would be going to America.
On 4 December 1941, Elsa was deported to Riga in Latvia, along with her sister Laura Mosbach (nee Horwtiz). They were both murdered there on 6 December 1941. Edith did not receive confirmation of her mother’s death until February 1946.
In the same year, she met her husband, Frederic Kolbrych (formerly Kohn). Frederic was from Prague and had served in the Czech Foreign Legion during the war. They married in a Synagogue in Hanley, Staffordshire, on 10 July 1946. They immigrated to Australia in 1948 and changed their name from Kolbrych to Colebrook.
Production placeHamburg, Germany
Production date 1939-07-29 - 1939-07-29
Subjectimmigration, families, keeping in touch, loved ones' fates
Object namepostcards
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 148.00 mm
height: 104.00 mm
Language
- German My Dear Edith,
Very happy with your dear letter, many thanks. I can see that you are keeping well and making good progress in the English language. Keep busy learning and pay attention to pronunciation and meaning of the words, and soon you will be able to start your lessons. The sending of your blouse is quite a problem. This goes through the foreign exchange and I have no time for that, alas. Thereby you had to wait such a long time. We are expecting, Mrs. Dr. Hans early next week. Margot Stein and I will be happy when we have accomplished our mission. Your longing for salami you will also have to stifle. Ruth and Erich are going finally to America on 5 September and are busy getting ready. Tomorrow Eric is having his birthday on the 6th and not on 8/8. Things are fine with money. Already got it. Today I wrote to Uncle Alex. Unfortunately Werner has been operated in Haifa, I heard from Laura. Our Ruth had bad luck too, she sprained her leg, very unhappy about it, falling and for weeks could not walk, getting massages and ray treatment. Do you ever write to Uncle Alex? How do you like it with Mr. Langer[?]. Do you get good food? If possible, write immediately. Warm regards from your Mutti (Mum).
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Kathryn Thiel-Sirett