Gabriele Keenaghan BEM

Gabriele was born in Vienna in 1926.

Born: 1926

Place of Birth: Vienna

Arrived in Britain: 05/04/1939

Experiences: Kindertransport

Interview Summary

Gabriele was born in Vienna in 1926.

Her mother was Christian but she was unaware that her father was Jewish until she was forced to leave her convent school and wear a yellow star. She never saw her father again after Kristallnacht. Her grandmother made arrangements for her to leave Austria on the Kindertransport.

She studied at teacher training college, and later became headmistress of a school in her home town of Newcastle. She married and had children who often returned with her to visit her grandmother in Vienna.

Gabriele was appointed BEM for services to Holocaust education. (Catholic Committee for Refugees, With Foster Family, Classified as enemy alien, Return visit to country of birth)

The copyright of personal photos and documents on the site are held by each interviewee and may not be reproduced without their permission.