Vienna to Manchester: A Lifetime's Journey

Vienna to Manchester: A Lifetime’s Journey

Ruth was born in July 1926 in Vienna, the only child of Isak and Josephine Schneier.

In 1938, German soldiers entered Austria and laws were passed altering the everyday lives of Jews. When Hitler came to power, more restrictions were introduced and by November, Ruth’s father was taken away to Dachau concentration camp.

Isak’s uncle, Samuel, was living in Manchester at the time. Josephine approached him to see if they could assist them in leaving Germany. Samuel’s daughter and son-in-law could not afford to bring the whole family over, but could offer a financial guarantee for Ruth.

Isak was eventually released on 26 January 1939. On 14 February, Ruth left Vienna for England. When she was 19, she went to live in Macclesfield, Cheshire working in a coat and suit factory. She met her future husband Sidney, a fellow refugee from Vienna.

They settled in Manchester and Ruth joined Sidney in the handbag trade. Ruth worked on the markets until she was 78.

She and Sidney had three children, four granddaughters and many great- grandchildren.

“I saw there were only two coats in the kitchen not three, I burst into tears. He was sent to Dachau concentration camp”

Ruth Edwards

“After the war, I found out that they had been killed by eavesdropping on my aunt and uncle who had received a letter from the Red Cross. Nosy parker me stood outside the door and listened. I was choking…”

Ruth Edwards

“At some point there had been a lot of trouble in Cheetham Hill Road with Jewish shops having their windows broken.”

Ruth Edwards

Vienna to Manchester: A Lifetime’s Journey

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