A moving testimony from Holocaust survivor Harry Kessler MBE

On Friday, 6 March, Lower Sixth students had the opportunity to hear first-hand testimony from Holocaust survivor Harry Kessler MBE, as part of a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust. 

During the visit, students listened attentively as Harry shared his life story, entitled My Accidental Life, including a moving connection to Chester and The King’s School.

Harry was born in Vienna in August 1930 and grew up as an only child in a loving family, enjoying a normal and very happy life until the rise of Nazism and the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938 dramatically changed everything.

Harry gave a deeply personal and moving account of his early life, and described how a chance encounter on a river trip with a couple from Chester would change the course of his life. 

On a Danube trip, Harry and his father met Mr and Mrs Jones who were in Vienna for a dental conference. When the couple missed their stop, Harry’s father invited them back to the Kessler home for coffee and cake before showing them back to their hotel, an act of kindness that Mrs Jones wrote to thank him for on her return to England. 

A few years later, after fleeing Vienna and living in Czechoslovakia for a year, Harry’s family once again found themselves under Nazi occupation and they made the decision to try and leave. Needing a mass of paperwork, including a signed affidavit from a family prepared to take full financial responsibility for them in the country they were moving to, Harry’s father remembered the letter from Mrs Jones and wrote to the family, asking for their help to move to England. 

Harry’s family arrived in Chester in May 1939 with just a few shillings, no knowledge of the English language and huge debt of gratitude to the Joneses. 

By extraordinary coincidence, and bringing special significance to Harry’s talk at school, we discovered that Mr Jones, a dentist whose practice was on Whitefriars in the city centre, was a former pupil of The King’s School. Even more remarkably, we also learned before Harry’s visit that Mrs Richards, one of our maths teachers, is the great-granddaughter of Mr Jones. 

Mrs Richards had grown up hearing Harry’s story through her family but had never had the opportunity to meet him. During the visit, she was able to share lunch with Harry and his wife, Mary, along with Helen Andreson, granddaughter of the Joneses and her husband, Peter. Mrs Richards’ mother, also a granddaughter of Mrs and Mrs Jones, also joined the lunch, making the occasion a deeply personal reunion across generations.

Mrs Richards said: “Having heard the story though my own family history, it was such an honour to meet Harry and hear his words today. His message of kindness and tolerance is one that I hope we all carry with us.”

Mr and Mrs Jones’ grandchildren, Terry and Helen, were grateful to have the opportunity to hear Harry speak and reflected on their own family’s role in Harry’s life: “We were honoured to be there to hear about the part our grandparents played in Harry’s “accidental life”. We think that our grandfather in particular would be pleased – and amazed- that the little boy whose life he saved was giving such an inspiring talk to pupils at his own school 87 years later, and in front of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren no less.

“He would also be proud that our respective families are now friends. Harry’s story is a testament to how kind deeds can ripple profoundly through time and his message of tolerance and kindness feels more important than ever in today’s world.”

Harry Kessler (front left) with his wife Mary were joined by (from left on the back), Terry Brownrigg (Mrs Richards’ Mum, and granddaughter of the Joneses) , Frankie Richards (King’s maths teacher and great-granddaughter of the Joneses), Helen Anderson (granddaughter of Mr and Mrs Jones), and Peter Anderson (husband of Helen and former King’s pupil)

Kindness and Tolerance

In his testimony, Harry spoke movingly about those members of his family who did not survive, including his aunt who was deported to Terezín and was later murdered at Auschwitz. His testimony powerfully illustrated both the devastating consequences of antisemitism and hatred, and the importance of compassion, courage, and standing up for others.

Harry’s testimony was followed by a thoughtful question-and-answer session, which allowed students to deepen their understanding of the Holocaust and reflect on its lessons for the modern world.

He left the students with one powerful message: Kindness and Tolerance. An act of kindness saved the lives of Harry and his parents and he encouraged students to be purposefully and deliberately kind, and to seek to tolerate others regardless of religion, race and background. 

Harry’s visit was organised by Mr Bircham: “It was a privilege for us to welcome Harry into school today and his testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced.

“The fact that it was one of our own former students who showed a kindness to Harry that saved his life has made Harry’s testimony all the more powerful. I hope that hearing Harry’s testimony will encourage our students to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.”

The Holocaust Education Trust

Harry’s visit was made possible as part of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s extensive year-round Outreach Programme, which is available to schools across the UK.

Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, highlighted the importance of the programme: “The Holocaust Educational Trust educates and engages students from across the UK, from all communities about the Holocaust and there can be no better way than through the first-hand testimony of a survivor. Harry’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing his testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where antisemitism and hatred can ultimately lead.

“At the Trust, we impart the history of the Holocaust to young people, to ensure that we honour the memory of those whose lives were lost and take forward the lessons taught by those who survived.”

Harry now lives in Southport with his wife Mary and is a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Harry Kessler MBE speaks at the King’s School Chester. On the screen he shows the letter, written by Mrs Jones from Whitefriars, Chester, that would change his life.