But enough of pneumonia. I'm tired of talking about it. I'd far rather talk about some research that I'm doing at the moment. I'm trying to find out how my Grandma and her siblings might have travelled from Latvia to London in the early 1900s because they never spoke about it and we never asked. The pogroms were getting frighteningly close. Jewish people were forbidden to work in many trades. My Grandma and family were starving. The only time they mentioned this was to say that the family in the 'Fiddler on the Roof' film were rich in comparison.
The more I read about the possible journey that brought them here to England, the more I'm struck by the similarity between their experience and today's refugees' experiences. There's mention of corrupt agents in the big towns encouraging people to go to England and America but not providing safe travel. Refugees were packed onto ships that in some cases were designed for cattle and indeed, had the cattle on the upper levels. Human excrement was reported to be pouring down the sides of ships as they docked. Many people came here expecting to pick up pre-paid tickets to travel on to America only to find that they had been ripped off and no tickets existed. It all sounds so familiar.
I intend to find out more about that journey that Grandma never spoke about, but for now I just want to say that had England turned those ships away, then my family and the family of most of my friends would never have been. For me that is a sobering thought.
I hope you all had a lovely Purim/will have a great Easter... and the sun is still shining!
Hi Ros - we had a member of the Lithuanian Embassy down to talk to us at our European Movement meeting on Russia and the EU - and he told his story of his grandparents ... they weren't Jewish - so were sent back to Russia .. but in due time were able to return.
ReplyDeleteI know - now I blog ... I wonder many things about my family (both sides) and of course cannot now find those answers out. Your family coming to the UK from Latvia must have been an incredible journey - desperate times.
I often compare the refugees of today and the earlier times - all appalling - and yes the what if question ... we are blessed and exceedingly lucky to be where we are today.
You too have a peaceful Purim and a happy weekend and keep recovering ... it is sunny down here too - though for how long is questionable ... Cheers Hilary
Many refugees were sent back, Hilary. It was all so similar to today, very sad, and yes, we are lucky that we live here in the UK.
DeleteGood to know you are well enough to think about research - which sounds fascinating!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jo. I love researching. I get totally lost in it.
DeleteSo sad. How can people treat each other like that?
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter.
I wish we knew the answer to that question, Sandra. We could change the world if we did.
DeleteThe parallels are awful, even more because the inhumanity continues. I'm so glad you are feeling better, Ros, and that you are able to do this research. History is so important, but yes...what if? Sobering indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Val and yes, it certainly is a sobering thought.
DeleteThere but for the grace of God .... I often think that if my grandparents weren't accepted by Britain, they would have perished in the camps decades later. One of my grandmas (or bubbas as we called them) often told us interested stories of the stetl where she was born.
ReplyDeleteI didn't really know any of my grandparents and have no idea how they arrived in England. Yes, history repeats itself and it seems we are never able to prevent that. Good to see you around.
ReplyDeleteInteresting research and indeed the parallels to today's world are sobering. Glad your forefathers got where they needed to go for your sake. All the best to you - here's to your spring renewal of energy. Enjoy the pop of spring
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're on the mend its been a long haul for you. I really hope you find out about you're family it's so interesting. The world really hasn't moved on much, we thought these things could never happen again but look at the ways we are treating today's refugees.
ReplyDelete