will
Object numberM2010/105:010
Titlewill
DescriptionAustralian Military Forces will (a) with envelope (b) for Pte Heinz Jacobius (later Henry James) of the 8th Australian Employment Company. In it Henry leaves all belonging and property to his sister Mrs. Charlotte Meyer in South Africa. Part of a collection of documents, photographs, letters and military memorabilia donated to the Sydney Jewish Museum by Heinz Jacobius (Henry James).
Heinz Jacobius was born in 1922 in Halbe, Germany, to Alexander and Pauline (nee Loewenstein) Jacobius. Alarmed by the news of the war and the persecution of the Jews, Heinz was sent to England. There he got caught in the internment of “enemy aliens”. Aged 18, he became one of the 1,750 Jewish refugees who were shipped on 10 July 1940 on the HMT Dunera from Liverpool to Australia - together with 800 other enemy aliens. The dangerous voyage took 57 days and left a lasting impression on the detainees. On arrival in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the detainees were incarcerated behind barbed wire in remote camps in Hay in New South Wales and Tatura in Victoria, guarded by friendly elderly armed Australian reservists, under the watchful eye of a Military Commandant. It was left to the new arrivals to organise camp life, which was filled with a rich program of cultural events and educational and vocational activities. Internees were gradually released, beginning in late 1940. Of the 2,542 Dunera passengers, two thirds made the decision to leave Australia. Almost half accepted the offer to return to England or to other countries that were open to new arrivals.
When given the opportunity to join the Australian military, Heinz enlisted on 8 April 1942 and served in the Citizen Military Forces employment companies until 5 July 1946; a total effective period of 1,549 days and all within Australia. Heinz remained in contact with his parents in Germany until early 1942 when his letters came back unopened and marked ‘Return to sender’. He later learned that his parents were murdered in Treblinka. He kept in contact with his uncle and aunt, Max and Margarete Loewenstein (Pauline's brother), and their son Hans-Joachim, who had immigrated to Australia in 1938 and had started a chicken farm called, ‘Loewenstein’s Chickens.’
Heinz Jacobius was born in 1922 in Halbe, Germany, to Alexander and Pauline (nee Loewenstein) Jacobius. Alarmed by the news of the war and the persecution of the Jews, Heinz was sent to England. There he got caught in the internment of “enemy aliens”. Aged 18, he became one of the 1,750 Jewish refugees who were shipped on 10 July 1940 on the HMT Dunera from Liverpool to Australia - together with 800 other enemy aliens. The dangerous voyage took 57 days and left a lasting impression on the detainees. On arrival in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the detainees were incarcerated behind barbed wire in remote camps in Hay in New South Wales and Tatura in Victoria, guarded by friendly elderly armed Australian reservists, under the watchful eye of a Military Commandant. It was left to the new arrivals to organise camp life, which was filled with a rich program of cultural events and educational and vocational activities. Internees were gradually released, beginning in late 1940. Of the 2,542 Dunera passengers, two thirds made the decision to leave Australia. Almost half accepted the offer to return to England or to other countries that were open to new arrivals.
When given the opportunity to join the Australian military, Heinz enlisted on 8 April 1942 and served in the Citizen Military Forces employment companies until 5 July 1946; a total effective period of 1,549 days and all within Australia. Heinz remained in contact with his parents in Germany until early 1942 when his letters came back unopened and marked ‘Return to sender’. He later learned that his parents were murdered in Treblinka. He kept in contact with his uncle and aunt, Max and Margarete Loewenstein (Pauline's brother), and their son Hans-Joachim, who had immigrated to Australia in 1938 and had started a chicken farm called, ‘Loewenstein’s Chickens.’
Production placeAustralia
Object namelegal documents
Dimensions
- envelope width: 102.00 mm
envelope height: 230.00 mm
will width: 85.00 mm
will height: 210.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Henry James