My Story

The following is a synopsis of Adash Bulwa’s book which recounts his life before, during and after the Holocaust.

Adash (Abram) Bulwa was born in Piotrkow, Poland in 1926 into a religious Jewish family. His mother died when he was only two weeks old, leaving his father to care for Adash and his older siblings David and Faigle Hanna.

In 1939, two weeks after war broke out, the first ghetto in Europe was established in Adash’s hometown. His family were sent to the ghetto. From there, Adash was sent to Belzec camp, and then returned to the ghetto. Working in the glass factory, he watched as the train carried his family to Treblinka. In 1944 he was sent to the Hasag-Rakow labour camp, then to Buchenwald and on to camp Mitelbau-Dora. He survived a death march and Bergen Belsen, which was liberated in April 1945.

After liberation, Adash returned to his hometown, only to find that his family home had been given to new owners. He could find no sign of his family. In 1945 he came to Windermere, England with 30 other orphaned survivors, who became known as “The Boys”. He settled in Manchester, where he became a tailor, eventually setting up his own business. He attempted to trace family members through the Red Cross. Adash was eventually reunited with his brother David and cousin Aron.

Adash met his wife in 1947 and had two daughters, three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

“On Shabbat, after shul, I would meet up with all my friends during the day. In the summer, we would go to the woods. It was my pleasure to go there. The smell from the conifer trees was fantastic. I really enjoyed it.”

Adash Bulwa

“There was one woman, a young Polish Catholic, who every day would smuggle herself into the ghetto bringing in food for the kids. She laid her life down, and eventually she was sent to Treblinka.”

Adash Bulwa

“In late May 1954, Zena and I had wonderful news. I received a telegram from my cousin in Paris saying that he had found my brother David. He came to see me in England in June 1954, and I met him at Victoria Station. David was crying when I met him.”

Adash Bulwa

My Story

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