Sir Nicholas Winton, as a 29 year old stock broker, in 1938 was suppose to go skiing for his holiday, but after a conversation with a friend, went to Prague instead. It was here that he saw first hand refugees and the desperation of those who wanted to get out. Parents were sending their children abroad, away from the imminent danger that they felt Hitler and Nazi Germany were to them.
Sir Winton set up an office for himself, working out of a hotel room, talking to parents who wished to have him help take their children away to somewhere safe, out of Hitler’s reach. He worked tirelessly during those two weeks, and then returned home, with names and photos of children who needed to be relocated.
Upon his return to London, he dedicated his time in finding a way to bring the children to London, whether it be temporarily or permanently was yet to be seen. Europe was on the brink of war, and no-one knew what the fate of the Jews was to be for certain, but they all knew that it was not good.
Sir Winton set up an office, managed by his mother and other volunteers. He would work during the day at his day job and worked at night battling the bureaucracy. He borrowed the stationary of an official department, and added “Children’s Section” to it, he made himself the Chairman of the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia – Children’s Section.
He would go on to fake transport documents, bribe and blackmail, so that he could achieve his goal of transporting the children to London.
Sir Winton and his Children’s Section members would save 669 children in total, transporting them to London. And they would then place these children in homes.
The Children’s Section would advertise the children in the newspaper, asking for good families to take them in. In total, 7 trains were organised for the children. His biggest regret is that the 8th train, carrying 250 never made it out of Prague, and knowing that almost all of the children did not make it past the war.
Sir Winton joined the war efforts and he went on with his life after the war, marrying and starting his own family. What he had achieved relating to the children was not spoken about by him.
It wasn’t until his wife found a ledger with all the names of the children in a box that his story came to light.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAtDdLLJ6BY
669 children had been saved, placed in new homes, and yet, they had no idea who had been responsible for it. It wasn’t until 1988 that these children finally found out who had been responsible for saving them.
Today, at the age of 106, Sir Nicholas Winton passed away. Leaving behind a beautiful legacy of a true humanitarian. A man who didn’t want to be recognised, didn’t need to be applauded for being a good person. A very rare man indeed. The world has lost a great man today, but hopefully, he will leave behind a world that is a little kinder and brighter because of him.
Ranter & Banter 