Object numberM2003/017:009
DescriptionColoured pencil drawing and collage depicting a girl in a blue cape, ringed by four-leaf clovers. There is birthday message in creative blue and red script on the back by Josette Valery. It reads: "Dear Jacqueline, I give you this little drawing, which I hope you’ll enjoy. I hope that next year you spend your birthday with your dear parents. Receive my best wishes for your birthday. A friend who loves you, Janette.” This card was given to Jacqueline Dale (nee Feldman) for her 14th birthday in 1945 at the orphanage in Castera-Verduzan.
Jacqueline was born in Paris, France on 18 January 1931 to Pessa and Icek Feldman. Her parents were Polish Jews and married in 1929; shortly after they moved to Paris. Jacqueline attended a French public school, except for on Thursdays and Sundays, when she attended a Jewish school. Her family visited the synagogue and kept kosher.
Her father Icek (Isaac) was a tailor and served in North Africa with the French Foreign Legion until 1940. He returned to France but was then arrested by French authorities in May 1941. He was deported to Pithiviers Internment Camp in 1941 and deported to Auschwitz in July 1942, where he was murdered.
After her father’s arrest, German soldiers visited Jacqueline’s apartment to take her family to a camp, but they managed to hide. Pessa fled to the Zone Libre (unoccupied territory) in the south of France. In 1942 (aged 11) Jacqueline was sent by the OSE (Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants, a children’s aid organisation) to De l'ecole Du Couret; an orphanage in the French town of Couret. Meanwhile her brother Charles (born 1937) was sent to a nursery. Jacqueline and Charles were reunited a year later at an orphanage in Poulouzat. When Poulouzat was attacked by German soldiers Jacqueline and Charles moved to a Catholic orphanage in Castera-Verduzan in the Haute Pyrrenees region of France, where they stayed from 1943 until 1945. She and her brother hid their Jewish identity and pretended to be Catholic at Castera-Verduzan. Meanwhile, her mother worked on a farm as a maid.
After liberation, Jacqueline was taken to two chateaus where she learned sewing, which later helped her get a factory job when she returned to Paris. She migrated to Australia in 1949, aged 18, with the help of the OSE. She married Louis Pakula in November 1949 and had two children, Rina (born 1950) and Irwin (born 1953). She joined a Child Survivor group and was naturalized as an Australian citizen five years after her arrival. Later Jacqueline married again to Anthony Dale. Pessa migrated to Australia in 1977.
Part of a collection of birthday cards donated by Jacqueline in 2003.
Jacqueline was born in Paris, France on 18 January 1931 to Pessa and Icek Feldman. Her parents were Polish Jews and married in 1929; shortly after they moved to Paris. Jacqueline attended a French public school, except for on Thursdays and Sundays, when she attended a Jewish school. Her family visited the synagogue and kept kosher.
Her father Icek (Isaac) was a tailor and served in North Africa with the French Foreign Legion until 1940. He returned to France but was then arrested by French authorities in May 1941. He was deported to Pithiviers Internment Camp in 1941 and deported to Auschwitz in July 1942, where he was murdered.
After her father’s arrest, German soldiers visited Jacqueline’s apartment to take her family to a camp, but they managed to hide. Pessa fled to the Zone Libre (unoccupied territory) in the south of France. In 1942 (aged 11) Jacqueline was sent by the OSE (Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants, a children’s aid organisation) to De l'ecole Du Couret; an orphanage in the French town of Couret. Meanwhile her brother Charles (born 1937) was sent to a nursery. Jacqueline and Charles were reunited a year later at an orphanage in Poulouzat. When Poulouzat was attacked by German soldiers Jacqueline and Charles moved to a Catholic orphanage in Castera-Verduzan in the Haute Pyrrenees region of France, where they stayed from 1943 until 1945. She and her brother hid their Jewish identity and pretended to be Catholic at Castera-Verduzan. Meanwhile, her mother worked on a farm as a maid.
After liberation, Jacqueline was taken to two chateaus where she learned sewing, which later helped her get a factory job when she returned to Paris. She migrated to Australia in 1949, aged 18, with the help of the OSE. She married Louis Pakula in November 1949 and had two children, Rina (born 1950) and Irwin (born 1953). She joined a Child Survivor group and was naturalized as an Australian citizen five years after her arrival. Later Jacqueline married again to Anthony Dale. Pessa migrated to Australia in 1977.
Part of a collection of birthday cards donated by Jacqueline in 2003.
Production placeFrance
Production date 1945-01-18
Subjectorphanages, children, hiding
Object namedrawings
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- whole width: 155.00 mm
height: 196.00 mm
Language
- French 001 – “In honour of your birthday, I wish you a good day. I hope that in 1945 you will be reunited with your parents. Your friend who loves you lots. Big hug. Marius Properzio.”
002 – “Dear friend, I heard that it was your birthday and for that I send you this little drawing, wishing you a happy birthday which I hope you enjoy. I bring you my letter hugging you tightly. The little friend who loves you [?] your niece. Sharito_R.”
003 – This is just a generic birthday greeting… it’s not easy to decipher the handwriting but I could do it later if you’d like.
004 – “Dear Jacqueline, On the occasion of your 14 years I wish you a good and happy birthday. I certainly am not giving you much but I hope it pleases you. I hope that next year you can spend it with your whole family. Receive this from a friend who loves you and will never forget you. -Yvette-“
005 – “Dear Jacqueline, I wish you a happy 14th birthday. I hope that you’ll be reunited with your parents. I’ve made you a little drawing for your enjoyment. Your friend who loves you lots. Jesus Canedo.”
006 – “Dear little Papa (I believe that’s a colloquialism meaning something like ‘spoiled little rich kid’), On the occasion of your birthday, I wish you a good and happy day and also that next year you spend it with your dear parents. Finally, dear little papa, I finish by hugging you tightly, your little friend who loves you and will never forget you, Marilin.”
007 – “Dear friend, I wish you a happy birthday, hoping that you pass your classes, that you find your dad again and that the war finishes so that you can be reunited with your loved ones. A thousand caresses from two friends who love you, Felisa and Gregoria.”
008 – “For Jacqueline/dear little friend, In honor of this day of your birth make you a small drawing for your pleasure it is not well done but I hope that it pleases you regardless [sic]. And I hope that you reunite with your parents. And I promise to obey you when we’re partners. Your friend who lots and won’t forget you [sic]. (Some names crossed out: Anielo, Reicher, and Tolek)
Dear Jacqueline, I wish you a happy 14th birthday. Your friend who loves you very much. Anatoll.”
009 – “Dear Jacqueline, I give you this little drawing, which I hope you’ll enjoy. I hope that next year you spend your birthday with your dear parents. Receive my best wishes for your birthday. A friend who loves you, Janette Valiny(?)”
010 – “King’s Musketeer”
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Jacqueline Dale