The Dudley Refugee Committee and the Kindertransport, 1938–1945

Abstract

Little is known about most of the local refugee committees formed in response to the government’s announcement of the Kindertransport scheme and the subsequent creation of the Lord Baldwin Fund – there were at least 170 – apart from a few in places such as Manchester, Cambridge, Gloucester, Worthing, and York where records have survived.1 The Dudley Refugee Committee was one of the first wave of committees. It was formed at a meeting of about twenty people convened by the Mayor of Dudley, Alderman A. Elliott Young, in December 1938.2 It was formally constituted on 2 February 1939.3 The mayor was appointed the chairman, Mr. J. Barnsley vice-chairman, William Henry Tilley secretary, and George H. Dutfield treasurer. Among those on the committee were the Archdeacon of Dudley (the Ven. Dr. A. P. Shepherd), David C. Temple, Sybil Frood, Dr. Hans Honigmann, and James and Dorothy K. S. Rogers.4