Object numberM2013/046:001
DescriptionThis is an interview done with Jacqueline Dale regarding a number of objects she donated to the Sydney Jewish Museum. It was part of a project to video survivors talking about objects they donated. The interview was done in his home and was conducted by Shannon Maguire and was filmed by Kate Disher-Quill on 4th December 2012.
Jacqueline Dale was born Jacqueline Feldman on the 18th January 1931 in Paris. When the war started, her Father went into French legion. When he was discharged he returned to Paris he was arrested by the French police. He was sent to Pithiviers internment camp and from there deported to Auschwitz where he was murdered. It was difficult for her mother caring for two children on her own.
A school friend of Jacqueline’s whose father was a policeman, told his daughter to warn Jacqueline about the upcoming roundup of women and children. Jacqueline told her mom who didn’t believe her at first but after she thought about it she went to the concierge who helped conceal them from the authorities. They left straight after, but their Jewish identity papers stopped them from getting to far and the family was sleeping out on the streets. It was very difficult and her mother thought they had to give themselves up when a women came to their assistance. Her mother was taken to be a farm maid, Jacqueline and two year old brother were eventually taken to a Catholic orphanage on the border of Spain.
5:35 Jacqueline talks about an orphanage she was at prior to being taken to the Catholic orphanage was in the same orphanage as Marcel Marceau, a very famous Jewish mime and actor.
6:08 Jacqueline talks about life in the Jewish orphanage which was good but then rumours started about children taken from the orphanages. They had to do drills to ready the children to escape. Jacqueline remembers that she was afraid and was aware of the events around her.
6 children from here were taken to a Catholic orphanage. She describes the strict life and assimilating into Catholic culture in another catholic orphanage. Names were changed if they sounded very Polish or Jewish, but their names were not changed, just told to hide their Jewish identity. Jacqueline talks about how she was telling her brother not to tell anyone that they are Jewish and at the age of 4 how confused he must have been. All the children got along fine.
12:10 Jacqueline talks about being in contact with her mother. At the second orphanage she was able to write her mother but under the pretence that they were friends (Dear Mrs. ……) At the final orphanage she had no more contact with her Mother. She also talks about what it was like being apart from her.
13:55 - Jacqueline talks about relationships with the other children
14:22 – Jacqueline talks about the birthday cards. She was surprised about receiving so many cards and she felt special.
15:25 Jacqueline talks about keeping in touch with other children from the orphanage. One ways was through a publication (which she donated to the Museum).
16:12 – Jacqueline talks about being reunited with her mother. It was difficult for her mother because she had no work and no ways to support her children. Charles was left in the orphanage while she sorted things out.
18:29 – Jacqueline went to learn a trade after the war and learned sewing. She then got little jobs.
20:30 – Jacqueline explains why she decided to come to Australia. Some family was looking for who survived through the red cross and Jacqueline and her family were the only ones. They offered her transport to Australia. She went on at the age of 18. Before Jacqueline left Charlie was brought to live with their mother but it was a struggle as he no longer knew her and was attached to Jacqui. He was continuously asking for her so their mother got him onto a boat and asked some guys to watch out for him.
22:42 – Jacqueline is being filmed with the objects.
23:39 – Jacqueline talks about a post-war magazine to help child survivors keep in touch.
25:12 – Jacqueline talks about her identity card from just after the war.
26:55 – Jacqueline talks about why Holocaust education is important.
27:31 – she says what she hopes that visitors to the Museum. She hopes that they will help spread the word about what happened.
28:14 – Jacqueline talks about the group photo from the orphanage. This is from the Jewish orphanage and shows her friend Rita who she met in Australia. She also talks about Rita and meeting her in Australia.
30:30 – Jacqueline talks about the photograph of her on the Cyrenia coming to Australia. It was a child transport and there were five females and twenty-five males. In this photograph Jacqueline is the third girl standing from the left. She describes the trip itself as quite exciting, and everyone was friendly. Everyone on this ship was Jewish survivors. There were many language barriers due to everyone coming from different places but once they arrived they remained friends for quite a while. This photograph was taken in 1949. This photograph holds a special place in the story of the holocaust as it signifies the liberation of the Jews through the freedom displayed through their dress and their expressions. “Australia was like a new world to them, where they started all over again”.
Jacqueline Dale was born Jacqueline Feldman on the 18th January 1931 in Paris. When the war started, her Father went into French legion. When he was discharged he returned to Paris he was arrested by the French police. He was sent to Pithiviers internment camp and from there deported to Auschwitz where he was murdered. It was difficult for her mother caring for two children on her own.
A school friend of Jacqueline’s whose father was a policeman, told his daughter to warn Jacqueline about the upcoming roundup of women and children. Jacqueline told her mom who didn’t believe her at first but after she thought about it she went to the concierge who helped conceal them from the authorities. They left straight after, but their Jewish identity papers stopped them from getting to far and the family was sleeping out on the streets. It was very difficult and her mother thought they had to give themselves up when a women came to their assistance. Her mother was taken to be a farm maid, Jacqueline and two year old brother were eventually taken to a Catholic orphanage on the border of Spain.
5:35 Jacqueline talks about an orphanage she was at prior to being taken to the Catholic orphanage was in the same orphanage as Marcel Marceau, a very famous Jewish mime and actor.
6:08 Jacqueline talks about life in the Jewish orphanage which was good but then rumours started about children taken from the orphanages. They had to do drills to ready the children to escape. Jacqueline remembers that she was afraid and was aware of the events around her.
6 children from here were taken to a Catholic orphanage. She describes the strict life and assimilating into Catholic culture in another catholic orphanage. Names were changed if they sounded very Polish or Jewish, but their names were not changed, just told to hide their Jewish identity. Jacqueline talks about how she was telling her brother not to tell anyone that they are Jewish and at the age of 4 how confused he must have been. All the children got along fine.
12:10 Jacqueline talks about being in contact with her mother. At the second orphanage she was able to write her mother but under the pretence that they were friends (Dear Mrs. ……) At the final orphanage she had no more contact with her Mother. She also talks about what it was like being apart from her.
13:55 - Jacqueline talks about relationships with the other children
14:22 – Jacqueline talks about the birthday cards. She was surprised about receiving so many cards and she felt special.
15:25 Jacqueline talks about keeping in touch with other children from the orphanage. One ways was through a publication (which she donated to the Museum).
16:12 – Jacqueline talks about being reunited with her mother. It was difficult for her mother because she had no work and no ways to support her children. Charles was left in the orphanage while she sorted things out.
18:29 – Jacqueline went to learn a trade after the war and learned sewing. She then got little jobs.
20:30 – Jacqueline explains why she decided to come to Australia. Some family was looking for who survived through the red cross and Jacqueline and her family were the only ones. They offered her transport to Australia. She went on at the age of 18. Before Jacqueline left Charlie was brought to live with their mother but it was a struggle as he no longer knew her and was attached to Jacqui. He was continuously asking for her so their mother got him onto a boat and asked some guys to watch out for him.
22:42 – Jacqueline is being filmed with the objects.
23:39 – Jacqueline talks about a post-war magazine to help child survivors keep in touch.
25:12 – Jacqueline talks about her identity card from just after the war.
26:55 – Jacqueline talks about why Holocaust education is important.
27:31 – she says what she hopes that visitors to the Museum. She hopes that they will help spread the word about what happened.
28:14 – Jacqueline talks about the group photo from the orphanage. This is from the Jewish orphanage and shows her friend Rita who she met in Australia. She also talks about Rita and meeting her in Australia.
30:30 – Jacqueline talks about the photograph of her on the Cyrenia coming to Australia. It was a child transport and there were five females and twenty-five males. In this photograph Jacqueline is the third girl standing from the left. She describes the trip itself as quite exciting, and everyone was friendly. Everyone on this ship was Jewish survivors. There were many language barriers due to everyone coming from different places but once they arrived they remained friends for quite a while. This photograph was taken in 1949. This photograph holds a special place in the story of the holocaust as it signifies the liberation of the Jews through the freedom displayed through their dress and their expressions. “Australia was like a new world to them, where they started all over again”.
Production date 2012-12-04
Object nametestimonies
Material.mov
Dimensions
- frame width: 1920
frame height: 1080
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Mrs Jacqueline Dale