Object numberM2015/004:009
CreatorRed Cross
DescriptionLetter from the Red Cross Bureau for Wounded, Missing and Prisoners of War addressed to Leonard Oppenheim in Sydney, Australia, dated 10 September 1942 and signed by hon. director B.R. Riley (?).
Leonard Aron Oppenheim was the first husband of Leonie Hirschberg who later became Leonie Hilton. Leonie left Berlin in 1938 in order to escape the Nazi regime. They met and got married in Singapore. Leonard Aron Oppenheim was born in Harbin, Russia, of Jewish origin. He was an engineer and architect in Singapore which was controlled by Britain. When war started he joined the British Volunteer Corps. The Japanese conquered Singapore in February 1942. Leonie was evacuated and ended up in Sydney. Leonard was captured and put to work. He became a prisoner (N° 13753) of war and was moved from Singapore to a camp in Kuching, Sarawak, on the island of Borneo in March 1943. There Leonard died in 1945. The cause of his death was officially given as malaria and beriberi.
The recipient of this letter must have been Leonard's wife Leonie Oppenheim as it is an answer to a request she had sent out beforehand in regards to gain information about her husband Leonard. In this letter two people are quoted that were being interviewed by their searchers, whose duty it is to gather all the information they can from people who have returned from any of the theatres of war. He also quotes that close relatives are now permitted to write to personnel in Japanese hands, enclosing the leaflet B.33 to show how this may be done (missing).
Leonard Aron Oppenheim was the first husband of Leonie Hirschberg who later became Leonie Hilton. Leonie left Berlin in 1938 in order to escape the Nazi regime. They met and got married in Singapore. Leonard Aron Oppenheim was born in Harbin, Russia, of Jewish origin. He was an engineer and architect in Singapore which was controlled by Britain. When war started he joined the British Volunteer Corps. The Japanese conquered Singapore in February 1942. Leonie was evacuated and ended up in Sydney. Leonard was captured and put to work. He became a prisoner (N° 13753) of war and was moved from Singapore to a camp in Kuching, Sarawak, on the island of Borneo in March 1943. There Leonard died in 1945. The cause of his death was officially given as malaria and beriberi.
The recipient of this letter must have been Leonard's wife Leonie Oppenheim as it is an answer to a request she had sent out beforehand in regards to gain information about her husband Leonard. In this letter two people are quoted that were being interviewed by their searchers, whose duty it is to gather all the information they can from people who have returned from any of the theatres of war. He also quotes that close relatives are now permitted to write to personnel in Japanese hands, enclosing the leaflet B.33 to show how this may be done (missing).
Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Production date
SubjectHolocaust, survivors, Jews in Australia, loved ones' contact, Japanese occupation, prisoners of war, Red Cross
Object nameletters
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 208.00 mm
height: 264.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Jeffrey Hilton