A little history lesson.. my grandfather's experience of WWII

[carlassean]

After my grandfather passed away over 15 years ago.. I found a diary, a few watercolor paintings, and an internment banknote..newspaper clippings.. etc.

I took the book and art and stored it away in my drawer..

I really never took much thought about it at the time. I did read the diary.. but could not find any information on the details in the diary to back it up as fact.

He never talked about his experience during WWII.. He was a Jewish refugee from Vienna, Austria.. Fled the Hitler regime to England, where he married my grandmother who lived in Leek, Staffordshire at the time. All her family came to England from Ireland..

I couldn't find any proof that my grandfather was one of the interned refugees aboard the ship, the 'Dunera'...which sailed to the Australian Internment camp called the 'Hay'..

Over the past few weeks I have done a ton of research.. and contacted various agencies in Australia.

I finally found a ship manifest.. and yes he was on board.. How neat it was to finally find proof, he really was there.

Here is a link to describe what happened to all the refugees.. as you can guess.. it was cruel and inhuman to be aboard the ship.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMT_Dunera

They made a British TV movie about it, called the Dunera boys.. I haven't watched it yet.. it can be found on youtube..

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089059/

When they finally made it to Australia they were treated very well..

Here is the Australian exhibition info.

http://www.nla.gov.au/exhibitions/archive/dunera/DB_Labels.pdf

Here is the Hay museum in Austrailia.. I have been in contact with the curator.. and they may have a buyer for all my things.. including the banknote.. which may be worth a WHOLE lot of money..  WHO would have thought... finding something in a drawer could be worth so much!! 
Can range from $7,000 to $20,000... holy crap!! wouldn't that come in handy about now!!

I would like to keep the collection together.. especially if it can be saved and put in a museum...

It has become so interesting.. and all new information is coming out about my grandfather.. WILD!

Here are the paintings and a photo of granddad in his British Uniform and he suit.. He was always a snazzy dresser!!











Richard Allen Kandelmenn (Kane) changed his name after ther war.. very mysterious..


Here are a few pages I scanned! Total of 38.. yikes!!! If anyone would like to read.. just let me know.. I am tempted to post this on LJ.. in its entirety... but.. have to find time to do it!!