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NOT WELCOME
Sue Everett was born in Nottingham, England, and spent her formative years living in the outer suburbs of south-east London. She met her future husband in London and emigrated to his home town,Melbourne, Australia, in 1979 where they continue to live with their two children.
Sue’s professional career in organisational development, occupational health and rehabilitation has spanned almost 40 years. She has worked in organisations in England and Australia and now works as a consultant in her own business.
Sue has been driven by a passion to preserve family history and a commitment to ensure that this unique story of her father-in-law is not forgotten.
Published by Hybrid Publishers
Melbourne Victoria Australia
© Sue Everett 2010
This publication is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the publisher.
Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction should be addressed to the Publisher, Hybrid Publishers,
PO Box 52, Ormond 3204.
www.hybridpublishers.com.au
First published 2010
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Author: Everett, Sue.
Title: Not welcome : a Dunera Boy’s escape from Nazi oppression to eventual freedom in Australia / Sue Everett.
ISBN: 9781921665103 (pbk.)
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Subjects: Eichbaum, Lutz.
World War, 1939-1945–Prisoners and prisons, Australian.
Jewish refugees–Australia–Biography.
Jews, German–Australia—Biography.
Dewey Number: 940.5317092
Cover design: Dynamic Creations
Typeset in Baskerville 12/15.5
Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group
Digital Distribution: Ebook Alchemy
ISBN: 9781877006203 (Epub)
Digital Conversion By
Winking Billy Productions
Contents
Introduction
The Early Years
The Growing Terror
Kindertransport
Refuge in England
Britain at War
Huyton
Destination Unknown
Australia and Internment
Hay
Tatura
Fruit Picking
The Eighth Australian Employment Company
Life in Australia
Return to Nuremberg
The Reunions
Fritz and Gretl’s Story
Frank’s Story
Werner’s Story
Afterword
Appendix 1: The Diary
Appendix 2: HMT Dunera
Appendix 3: Chronology of Political Debate
Appendix 4: A World’s Eye View of Events as Seen Through the Media
Appendix 5: Memorandum
Appendix 6: An Appeal for Justice and Humanity
References
Acknowledgments
Introduction
This is the true story of a life lived through extraordinary circumstances, an eye-witness account of some of the most unjust actions inflicted on dispossessed and displaced German Jews during World War II: the traumatic experiences of Lutz Eichbaum, a refugee fleeing from Nazi Germany. As a boy in his mid-teenage years he was forced to leave everything behind that was familiar to him, plucked from his homeland, culture, friends and family – all irretrievably torn apart.
Every effort has been made to corroborate the facts in the narrative of this book. I have endeavoured to be as true to Lutz Eichbaum’s life experience as possible, using his memories, diaries and photographs, accounts from friends and family, archival and historical data and anecdotal information. The chapters relating to Lutz’s internment are based on his diary entries. However, much of the detail and depth of Lutz’s early life is locked away in his memory, and where I haven’t been able to find the key to open up events more fully, I have used my own imagination; tried to empathise with his pain and loss, his frustration and fear, his lack of choice in the circumstances. I have constantly striven for fairness and authenticity … ‘Ultimately all memoirs are attempts at inventing the truth’ (William Zinsser, Inventing The Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir). It could even be said that if factual accuracy is paramount one might miss out on the true understanding of the experience.
As the persecution and injustice committed against the Eichbaum family has had significant consequences for our family (as it has similarly affected others) I feel a humble responsibility to tell his story and in so doing have found it a most fulfilling venture.
In the narrative of the period before 1945 I have referred to Ludwig Eichbaum as Lutz (the diminutive name), at which time he changed his name by deed poll to Leslie Ernest Everett; since that event I have referred to him in the narrative as Ernie, his preferred name.
