Harry Moye (1889-1962)

Emily Newell (1888-1977)

Marjorie Moye (1914- )

David Wilkinson #3 was a friend of Keith Lawson, for about thirty years, playing bridge together at Oundle Bridge Club. David did not know of the following story until Keith's Memorial Service at The Haycock Hotel Wansford on 13th October 2017.

Kurt Lazarus (Keith) was born a Jew in Berlin on 17th March 1925. His family considered themselves more German than Jewish and he had a wonderful first few years. As the Nazis rose Kurt started to suffer abuse and his school teacher started wearing a SS uniform and marking him down so he was then moved to a Jewish school. His family lost their drapery business on Krystalnacht and went from being middle class to destitute. His parents managed to get him on a Kinder Transport train to England. He was allowed to take one small suitcase and only one parent was allowed to accompany him to the station which was his mother. As the train left his father was at the next station waving to him. This was the last he saw of his parents.

Kurt duly arrived at Liverpool Street Station, but the family the were due to look after him did not turn up, so he was shunted from refugee camp to refugee camp ending up in a rat infested one in Ipswich Suffolk. He was put to work on a farm at Stratford St. Mary where he worked hard and the owners Harry #25061 and Emily Moye asked him to live there, and work permanently on the farm, effectively adopting him. This he did and he remained in touch with the family until he died. In fact a granddaughter, Dianna M Bishton (nee James) was present at the service and met with David.

Kurt joined the British Army about 1943 and whilst in Singapore he received a letter informing him that his parents had died in 1943 at Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Following the war Keith built upon his civil engineering experiences, changed his name to Keith Lawson, rising to be a Director of Tarmac and other engineering companies. A quote from an old colleague about Keith's wife when she was pregnant was "my stuffed Olive". The type of quote that typified Keith.

Keith died on 4th October 2017 in Hinchingbrook Hospital Huntingdon aged 92.

It is remarkable that David knew Keith for so long not knowing this story and that he was looked after by his 5th cousin 5 times removed in his early days in England

Harry Moye^2,3

Male

Harry Moye (1857- )

Sarah Ratcliff (1857?- )

son of Harry Moye (farm baliff) and Sarah of Stratford St. Mary

son living with his parents and a brother. Born in Stratford St. Mary Suffolk

unmarried son living with his parents, a brother, a boarder and two visitors. Born in Stratford St. Mary Suffolk

unmarried son working on the farm and living in eight rooms with his parents and a boarder. Born in Stratford St. Mary Suffolk

married farmer living with his wife, a daughter and her husband, a Philip Lambert and a closed record. Born 18th December 1889

of Homeleigh London Road Copdock, effects of £6,204 14s 9d (~£90,000 in 2005) to Emily Moye widow

Emily Newell³

Female

-

-

note 1939 census says 1888, death index says 1887

married unpaid housewife living with her husband, a daughter and her husband, a Philip Lambert and a closed record. Born 19th December 1888

of 56 Cornmill Gardens Wannock Ploegate East Sussex, effects of £22,315 (~£100,000 in 2005)

Marjorie Moye^3,12

Female

Sidney James (1905- )

married unpaid housewife living with her husband, parents, a Philip Lambert and a closed record. Born 19th September 1914