Priestley, A. May: Correspondence during internment (1940)

Copies of correspondence between Frederick Sittner and May Priestly, 1940, documenting the experiences of Sittner, a German Jewish refugee, whilst held in Dixon's Interment Camp, Paignton, Devon. Copy of an extract from Friedrich Sittner's instructions regarding the disposal of his possessions and 4 photographs of Sittner and Priestley.

Frederick Sittner came to Great Britain in the mid 1930s and became engaged in trying to persuade the US Food and Drug Administration to allow the marketing by his father of a rejuvenation potion. [His father was a pharmacist. It is thought that none of Sittner's family survived the war.] Frederick also taught German and studied English. He was swept up in the first wave of internments in 1939. The addressee, May Priestley, had become deeply involved in the activities of a local committee for the relief of refugees, during the course of which a close friendship had emerged between her and Frederick. The death of Frederick on the Arandora Star , mentioned in the last letter from Mrs Vina Schwab, profoundly affected Mrs Priestley.

Chronological

Open

Clive Priestley

Description exists to this archive on the Wiener Library's online catalogue www.wienerlibrary.co.uk.

Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.

Imperial War Museum