Object numberM2005/032:001
DescriptionPale green coat-hanger decorated with the face of a young girl, which was in the suitcase used by nine-year-old Beate Beer in the Kindertransport evacuation of Jewish children from Germany to England in April 1939.
"On 20 April 1939, I was sent forth by train and ship on an uncertain journey into another life. For this purpose my mother had purchased a new suitcase, which she carefully filled with new clothes, two silver cutlery sets bearing our family's initials - the extent of the permitted valuables - and a small album of photographs. Folded in tissue-paper, lay a blue party-frock, lovingly smocked by my mother, which had very big hems and pleats in the sleeves for future growth, in order to spare my foster-parents as much cost as possible for the upbringing of her daughter."
Beate Hammett (nee Beer) was born 9 May 1929, in Berlin, the only child of Alex and Alice Beer. Her father was the Chief Architect of the Berlin Jewish Community. Prompted by the destruction of the Prinzregentenstrasse Synagogue in Berlin, on 9 November 1938, Beate’s parents made arrangements for her to travel with the kindertransport to Britain. At the age of 9, Beate was sent to England. In April 1939, her new life began, commencing with a train journey and then three days on the S.S. Manhattan, the American liner which docked the children in Southampton. Beate spent the war years with a foster family in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. After the war, she immigrated to Sydney, Australia, arriving 10 November 1947. Her father was deported to Theresienstadt in March 1943 and was murdered 8 May 1944. Her mother, Alice, died in Berlin in November 1941. Beate immigrated to Australia in 1947, aged 18.
"On 20 April 1939, I was sent forth by train and ship on an uncertain journey into another life. For this purpose my mother had purchased a new suitcase, which she carefully filled with new clothes, two silver cutlery sets bearing our family's initials - the extent of the permitted valuables - and a small album of photographs. Folded in tissue-paper, lay a blue party-frock, lovingly smocked by my mother, which had very big hems and pleats in the sleeves for future growth, in order to spare my foster-parents as much cost as possible for the upbringing of her daughter."
Beate Hammett (nee Beer) was born 9 May 1929, in Berlin, the only child of Alex and Alice Beer. Her father was the Chief Architect of the Berlin Jewish Community. Prompted by the destruction of the Prinzregentenstrasse Synagogue in Berlin, on 9 November 1938, Beate’s parents made arrangements for her to travel with the kindertransport to Britain. At the age of 9, Beate was sent to England. In April 1939, her new life began, commencing with a train journey and then three days on the S.S. Manhattan, the American liner which docked the children in Southampton. Beate spent the war years with a foster family in Bridgnorth, Shropshire. After the war, she immigrated to Sydney, Australia, arriving 10 November 1947. Her father was deported to Theresienstadt in March 1943 and was murdered 8 May 1944. Her mother, Alice, died in Berlin in November 1941. Beate immigrated to Australia in 1947, aged 18.
SubjectKindertransport, children, refugees, escape
Object namecoat hangers
Dimensions
- length: 335.00 mm
height: 140.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Ms Beate Hammett