General Discussion
Jewish Hostel
While reading a magazine in the reception of a Exeter hospital I came across a very interesting article about a music composer called David Flatau.
David was evacuated as a boy of 12 to a Jewish Hostel in Dawlish. Forty youngsters lived there and went to school in Newton Abbott.
I have lived in Dawlish most of my life and have no recollection of such a Hostel and would be very interested to find out more.
The hostel, plus ones in Exmouth and Teignmouth, were set up by the Habonim Jewish youth movement.
Other than the above, I can't find any more precise information on this interesting subject.
TUCKED AWAY IN TRANQUIL EXMINSTER LIVES A MUSICAL LEGEND. MARIE BARBIERI MEETS WAR-TIME EVACUEE DAVID FLATAU AND DISCOVERS WHY HE HAS INSPIRED HUNDREDS OF DEVONIANS, YOUNG AND OLD.
When Rosa and Frederik Flatau gave birth to their son David in 1928, they had no idea that his talents would touch so many hearts.
David’s eclecticism emerged from humble beginnings in Brick Lane, where life was tough. Whilst his father struggled as a furrier, at the age of 11 David battled with a form of TB. Just as he was to be admitted for lung surgery, WWII broke out and David and his siblings were evacuated to Norfolk.
Inspired by the pianist son of his new foster parents, David penned his first song: Oh why did you leave me? dedicated to his mother. The following year, in 1950, David was again evacuated, this time to a Jewish hostel in Dawlish where he joined a group of six to sixteen year old Jewish children.
By the end of September hordes of children had been evacuated from London and other industrial cities. The main London railway stations swarmed with hundreds of children, each one wearing over their shoulder the compulsory little box containing a gasmask.
My parents were in a quandary. Where could they send me? Then Daddy spoke to someone who was going down to the little Devonshire village of Dawlish. He and his son were to visit a friend and he asked him if he would be willing to take me to his friend. He agreed and I went with him.
Except for a short spell in hospital the previous year, I had never been away from home. It was hard for me to imagine what my life would be like without Mummy and Daddy in a strange place. But before October was over I, too, was standing on Paddington Station with my gasmask over my shoulder. After a tearful goodbye, Mummy stood on the platform and waved until I saw her disappear
I arrived at the Green household that night, tired and hungry. I was fed and put to bed. Next morning I was eager to explore my new surroundings.
Mrs Green was a widow with two children. Raymond was eight years old and Hilda, thirteen. Hilda went off to secondary school on the school bus each morning. Raymond took me to the village school that he attended. We soon became fast friends and I was delighted to have a readymade playmate on hand. I settled in very happily and began to enjoy life. The droning of planes and the loud bomb explosions were soon forgotten, though I did worry about my family at home.
Dawlish was a pretty seaside village and I had always loved the sea. However, we were not able to swim for fear of mines. Many were washing up on the shores around Britain. Dawlish is famous for its Warren. This is a network of caves cut into the bright orange-red sandstone at the top of the beach. This area made a marvellous playground.
When we weren’t playing there, we enjoyed The Lawns, a beautiful park in the centre of the village. I became part of the gang to which Raymond belonged. He had two rifles that had belonged to his father. He lent me the single barrel. I was thrilled to be allowed to handle a real gun, even if it was never loaded. And when sides were picked I always hoped to be on the side of the Allies taking pot shots at the Jerries. These were happy, carefree days when the real war seemed far away.
In the crisp November air we went into the chestnut woods; a green world save for the rich reddish brown chestnuts lying in their spiky green shells at the base of the trees. Staggering home with bags full of nuts, we spent enjoyable evenings roasting them in the open fire, burning our fingers in our eagerness to peel off their shells.
Thank you Roy and J3 for your help.
I am completely blown away by this man!
I would love to hear his first song 'Oh why did you leave me' which he dedicated to his mother. I will also be looking out for any books David might have written.
I am still curious as to where the Hostel in Dawlish was.
