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Last updated
18 February, 2010

As part of Operation Kindertransport during world war two, hundreds of Jewish children were given refuge at Gwrych Castle. The facilities were extremely basic, with no running water or electricity, as the castle was not connected to the main water and electricity supplies, and no fuel was available for the generators. The children left Gwrych only after the war had ended, when land in the newly created state of Israel became available.

On January 26th (Holocaust Memorial Day) the BBC transmitted a programme filmed at Gwrych late last year, where some of the “children” recall their time at Gwrych.

Jan 26th 9:45 pm on BBC 2 Wales (digital)
Holocaust Day: A Haven in Wales
Throughout the Second World War Gwrych Castle in North East Wales became a secret haven for two hundred Jewish children who were smuggled out of Nazi Germany as part of a rescue operation.

Some of the “children” at Gwrych with Mark Baker

Update, 19th August 2009

New photos of Gwrych Castle have kindly been sent from Shoshi Sigler, Jerusalem, Israel to be added to the site. Her mother was one of the children rescued by the Operation Kindertransport. Her letter reads as follows:

Dear Mark,

As promised, I send you hereby, the printed photos from the screened photos. I hope you can use them and make the most out of it.

You are right. The picture is of the dining room and not a classroom. My mistake and was corrected by my mother.

The name you mentioned, John Edelnand, rings a bell to her but he was not called John then and she does not know anything about him. She is still in touch with some “children” but unfortunately and sadly, a lot of them are not with us any more.

Take care and please let me know once you receive this letter and what you think of it.

Best regards,

Shoshi