Metadata: Private Papers of Staff Sergeant E E Singer
Collection
- Country:
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Holding institution:
- Imperial War Museum
- Holding institution (official language):
- Imperial War Museum
- Postal address:
- Lambeth RoadLondonGreater LondonUnited KingdomSE1 6HZ
- Email:
- Email: contact@iwm.org.uk
- Reference number:
- Documents.27221
- Title:
- Private Papers of Staff Sergeant E E Singer
- Title (official language):
- Private Papers of Staff Sergeant E E Singer
- Creator/accumulator:
- Singer, Emlyn Eric
- Date(s):
- 1938/1947
- Language:
- English
- Extent:
- 1 file
- Scope and content:
- Papers relating to a lecture given by Staff Sergeant Emlyn Singer, a Viennese Jewish refugee serving in the British Army's Intelligence Corps, at Kempton Park Camp, Sunbury-on-Thames, on 5 July 1945, comprising a typescript speaking copy (17pp, ts) of Singer's lecture, with some alterations in blue ink, referring to a recent screening of film footage shot at liberated German concentration camps, likely including Bergen-Belsen, and also to Singer's own experience of imprisonment at Dachau in 1938, going on to argue that the German character is marked by 'unlimited respect of authority and violence', by an obsession with status and honour, by xenophobia, and describing National Socialism as 'a complete national unmasking'. The lecture traces the development of political thought from Hegel, the 'stab in the back' myth, the rise of the Nazis, political paramiltarism and German expansionism, and ending with an exhortation to the audience to be vigilant of German recovery in the future; an earlier set of notes (22pp, ms/ts, some on squared paper) of Singer's lecture; collection also includes one printed copy of a group photograph entitled 'Warrant Officers, Staff Sergeants and Sergeants, No.9 Prisoner of War Reception Camp, May 1945; one paper envelope containing newspaper cuttings accompanying Singer's lecture (these also as photocopies); a copy (1p ts) of 'Kempton Park Camp – Part One Orders by Lieutenant-Colonel H A Denison MC, Commandant' apparently posted in the sergeants' mess and dated 4 July 1945, listing the duty roster, Singer's lecture, provisionally advising on the wearing of campaign medal ribbons, and announcing a cricket match against Hampton Police on 6 July, and naming the squad; a document (1p, ts) by the Unit Education Officer dated 21 June 1945 titled 'British Way & Purpose Scheme – briefing notes for fortnight 2-16 July' and setting out a programme on the subject 'What brought us to war?', to include a 20-minute 'playlet' entitled 'It led to war', Singer's lecture, and a guided discussion on the possibility that 'resolute resistance' in the two decades before 1939 might have prevented war (this document also photocopied).Together with a folder entitled 'Original documents relating to Emil Eric Singer (his wife and children), their flight from Nazi-occupied Austria in October 1938, arrival in England in December 1938, his service in the British Army, and naturalization as British subjects in February 1947, containing a note from his employer (Schenker and Co. A.G.) dated 15 April 1938 informing Singer of the future termination of his employment; a letter dated 7 June 1938 on Schenker headed paper informing Singer of his termination further to the order of the Vienna authorities; documents confirming that Singer had no outstanding tax liabilities that would prevent his emigration; a letter of recommendation, dated 3 October 1938, with official English translation, writing in glowing terms of Singer's professional qualities; Singer's Deutsches Reich Reisepass, and also for his wife Elsa (the latter including their two children), both stamped J for Jewish, showing their photographs, and containing various stamps from Yugoslavia, the British consulate in Zagreb, France, Switzerland, Italy, and the United Kingdom; documents relating to his residence and naturalization in the United Kingdom, including a letter dated 30 June 1939 from the German Jewish Aid Committee informing Singer of an extension to his stay in the UK until December 1939; letters dated 29 September 1939 from the Chief Constable's Office of East Sussex Constabulary instructing Singer and his wife to attend an Aliens Tribunal on 3 October 1939; an undated photograph of Singer in military uniform; a letter dated 5 May 1943 from the Pioneer Corps Record Office informing Singer's wife of her husband's successful application to change his name to Emlyn Eric; Singer's Soldier's Will form; Singer's application for certificate of naturalization dated 7 December 1943, after five years residence in the UK, with his a copy of a covering letter to the Under-Secretary of State enclosing his application; the Under-Secretary's reply dated 14 January 1944, informing Singer that applications for naturalization have been suspended; Singer's service and pay book; his Release Book; a further naturalization application; a letter dated 21 October 1946, requesting Singer's attendance at an Inter-Services Naturalization Board in London on 11 November 1946; Singer's certificate of naturalization dated 1 February 1947.
- Administrative/biographical history:
- Viennese Jewish refugee serving in the British Army's Intelligence Corps
- Access points: locations:
- Bergen-Belsen
- Dachau
- Sunbury-on-Thames
- Access points: persons/families:
- Singer, Emlyn Eric
- Subject terms:
- Holocaust
- Holocaust--Concentration camps
- Jewish soldiers
- Refugees
- Access, restrictions:
- Visit IWM website for Research Room access provisions see https://www.iwm.org.uk/research/research-facilities
- Finding aids:
- Online catalogue.
- Links to finding aids:
- https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030057854
- Yerusha Network member:
- AIM25