Genealogy Chat

hold

Last word on Herta's story Jun 27 2006 By Robertdex A TRANSATLANTIC quest sparked by a South London Press story has finally come to an end. Two weeks ago we featured a story about a suitcase of letters and photographs left behind by a teenage Second World War refugee. Reader Carol ******* saw our story about 17-year-old Herta Loebenstein, who fled Nazi Germany for safety in South London and set out to find what happened to the Jewish teenager. She asked her friends on a family history web-site to help and they joined her search but found out Herta had died in an air raid in 1940. So their search turned to tracking down Herta's fiance, Heinz Boley,whose love letters to the 17-year-old were among the haul found in a house in Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill. All they knew was that Heinz had fled Germany as well and ended up in New York. Another South London Press reader, Leah *********, Vauxhall scoured an online New York phone book looking for Heinz - and found him. Leah, said: 'I just got lucky.It was the first number I called and a woman answered. 'I just explained a bit about the story and said I was looking for a Heinz Boley and she said, 'you must speak to my husband, he was Heinz but now is Henry'. 'I didn't want to upset him at his age so I didn't mention that Herta was dead but in fact he mentioned it. 'I think it is the romantic in us all. The article just touched so many people and we wanted to find Heinz or reunite the letters with a relative of Herta.' The South London Press contacted Heinz and will send him copies of the paper to show how letters written more than 60 years ago inspired a group of internet sleuths. The 86-year-old said he was surprised by all the attention. He said: 'It was all a lifetime ago. 'I am surprised people are so interested in this. 'But I am happy the letters are safe in Lambeth's archives.'

Well done everybody. The poor girl, fleeing to England for safety and then getting killed by a bomb. What a pity our leaders don't consider the ordinary folk when they go to war.

Hiya Carol, thank you so much for posting this, i was wondering what had happened. just goes to show what people power can achieve!! well-done!!!!! Julie

what makes this story a little ironic Jim.. Have a think... she was still killed by a German bomb...if she had stayed in Germany she too would have been slaughtered in the prison camp where her family had been slain... She flees here for safety and is killed by a German bomb..... Life is so cruel sometimes... Dont you think... Mo

Thanks Carol for the final update. I for one will never forget Herta and Heinz. I have relayed what happened to a number of friends and all have been touched by the tragic story. Helen

thanks for the update you have been fantastic and i am so proud of you all love linda x x

nudge for all who might have missed update

Fate can be cruel: One day during WW2 the weather was very bad over the UK and the only German aircraft plotted was a lone raider over S W England. One of the RAF's top aces, Catseyes Cunningham, was sent up to see if he could catch it. He located the German but was unable to shoot it down. However, his attack forced the German to jettison his bombs. Next day he found that his brother-in-law, a soldier at an army base in S W England, had been killed by what was almost certainly one of those bombs.

Many thanks for the update. It was a really sad story. Howevr, Brian's mention of Cats Eyes Cunningham took me back many years as my Dad was one of the ground crew who serviced his plane for a time an often said what a great bloke he was.

Thank you for the update. I was very touched by their story.

Just wanted to add my pennies worth lol....... It was nice of Carol to leave this update, although a sad story, at least Heinz has managed to live his life, and move on. poor Hert'a being killed by one of her own country folk's bomb, is very sad....but at least she didn't suffer like her father and family properly did....she can now rest in peace, knowing her story has/will be told. well done guys for all your hard work, but what else can you expect from these mad people on genes lol....all the best........Lilly