A commemorative plaque has been unveiled on the platform of Swanage station in Dorset to mark its history in the rescue of children from wartime Germany.
Some 10,000 children, mostly Jewish, were smuggled out of Germany, Poland, Austria and Czechoslovakia in the months before World War Two, to save them from almost certain death in the Nazi concentration camps.
Extended family of Trevor Chadwick posed with his statue at the Swanage Rec before the ceremony at the station
A remarkable rescue operation
Kindertransport was one of the most remarkable rescue operations of the 20th century, bringing children to the UK carrying little more than a suitcase filled with their worldly possessions.
They had said a final farewell to their families, most of whom later died in concentration camps, before being taken on steam trains to their new foster homes around the UK.
Swanage Railway and the town itself played a pivotal part in the rescue – one of the key figures in the initiative was Trevor Chadwick, who is credited with saving 669 children from Czechoslovakia before the declaration of war on 1st September 1939.
But many other local people played a big role in the rescue operation, and Swanage Railway brought the children to their new homes in the town, all of which has now been honoured with the unveiling of a plaque on Sunday 21st September 2025.
Second generation Holocaust survivor Craig Saul unveils the plaque on Swanage station
The commemorative plaque
Guests met at Norden
Swanage town mayor Mike Bonfield opened the emotional event before the plaque was unveiled by Craig Saul, son of Gary Saul – birth name Gunther – who arrived in the UK from Berlin on the very first Kindertransport on 2nd December 1938, child number 43 according to the placard around his neck.
Other second and third generation Kindertransport children, including Daniel Saul, Johnathan Lambski, Len Ostrove and Anita Grosz shared their families’ experiences and the gratitude they feel towards Swanage.
Guests met at Norden before taking a train to the ceremony at Swanage, literally following in the footsteps of the rescued children
Organiser Elaine Glover (left) with sculptor Moira Purver and her husband Bill
“Many, many local unsung heroes”
Organiser Elaine Glover said:
“I felt the day went very well – we wanted to recreate the atmosphere the original Kindertransport children would have experienced more than 75 years ago, so we all went to the statue of Trevor Chadwick in Swanage to honour him.
“Amy Williams, of the Association of Jewish Refugees, talked about her work, and we heard from sculptor Moira Purver who made the statue, which was very interesting.
“Then Edith Powney read a letter from from Paul Walder who now lives in Chile, whose father Peter was one of Trevor’s rescued Kindertransport children.
“There were many, many local unsung heroes like Trevor Chadwick, including Nicholas Winton and Florence Nankivell, who organised the first Kindertransport from Berlin to Harwich in early December 1938.
“That first transport included children like Gary Saul, Alfred Batzdorf and my own ancestor Irma Zanker, a special needs teacher and an escort to the children.”
Special Kindertransport guests met at Norden station before taking a steam train into Swanage
“Risks taken to save innocent lives”
Elaine added:
“Irma typifies the courage and sacrifice of this era – having taken the children to safety she returned to Berlin for a second mission, was arrested by the Gestapo and later murdered in Auschwitz.
“Her sacrifice, like that of many others, reminds us of the extraordinary risks taken to save innocent lives.
“Swanage played a pivotal part in this history, and Swanage Railway was instrumental in transporting children to a new life of safety. Swanage itself became a town of rescue and renewal and the kindness extended when they arrived left a lasting impact on those children.
“We organised the plaque not only to commemorate the children who were rescued, but also to honour the bravery of those who made their salvation possible.
“It calls on us to remember and uphold the values of compassion and justice, and reminds us of life that was saved in a time of great evil.”
Craig Saul and other second generation Kindertransport survivors at the station
“Keepers of the flame”
Second generation survivor Craig Saul, who unveiled the plaque, said:
“The real heroes were the Kinder themselves who came to a strange new land, their parents who sent them off to safety in what was so often a final goodbye, the families that took them in and the people who made it all possible at great risk to themselves.
“I am proud to play my very, very small part as one of the keepers of the flame, which we need to keep burning bright to preserve the Kindertransport history and the lessons that we need to draw for the future.
“After two weeks in England in 1938, my father was sent to the Dorset Rotary camp here in Swanage before being fostered.
“In addition to his love of and gratitude towards England as his adopted home, he retained a very close connection and affection for Swanage for the rest of his life.
“I wanted to say a very special personal thank you to those like Trevor Chadwick, who made the Kindertransport possible.”
Swanage Mayor Mike Bonfield (left), Swanage Railway Trust chair Frank Roberts (middle) and organiser Elaine Glover (right)
“A lasting reminder of Kindertransport”
Elaine Glover said:
“Kindertransport wasn’t a bed of roses for the rescued children – some were bullied because of their German accent, and almost all had gone through an emotional farewell with their parents, and would never see them again.
“I wanted to say those things to make people realise that there are a lot of issues around being a refugee, but at the end of the day they moved on with their lives and many held important and responsible jobs.
“Their children and grandchildren know that had it not been for Kindertransport, they wouldn’t be here today.
“The plaque will be a lasting reminder of the Kindertransport movement, and those who see it will recognise that Swanage is a pivotal place in this moving and emotional chapter of history.
“It was a very poignant, emotional day, especially to hear from the second and third generation of Holocaust survivors and to see some young children on the train, as that’s where their future began.”
Swanage town mayor Mike Bonfield cut the cake at a reception for guests at the Con Club opposite the station
Further information
- The history of Kindertransport is recorded on the National Holocaust Museum’s website
