In the age of Brexit a story worth sharing

Meet Nicholas Winton.

He found himself in Prague in December of 1938. It was supposed to be a 3-week vacation.

Instead of going skiing in Switzerland, he chose to assist a friend in helping Jewish children escape the fate the Nazis had in store for them.

From his room in the Europa Hotel in Wenceslas Square, he organised. He did nothing heroic. His life was never in danger.

Nicholas just did paperwork. He recorded the names of children and took their photos. He applied to the British Home Office to get them entry permits.

This was only possible because the British House of Commons had passed legislation in November 1938 to allow refugees under the age of 17 to enter the country against a caution of £50 as long as they had a home to live in.

Nicholas found homes and foster families for them. He also organised their travel to Britain.

At the end of his ‘vacation’, Nicholas continued his work from his home.

In the end he saved 669 children from the deaths their parents found in Auschwitz.

Sadly, he was always haunted by the last 250 children who didn’t make the last train on the day war was finally declared.

This may have been why Nicholas never talked about his deeds. For 50 years he kept the story to himself.

Finally in 1988, somebody found his records in the attic and shared them with a British TV programme called “That’s Life.”

That was when Nicholas finally met dozens of those who he had saved.

Nicholas never wanted to be a hero. He just wanted to do what was right.

Follow Nicholas.