Memories Sad Memories by Michael Rosen
May 11, 06:38 AM
We used to come from school to Sainte-Hermine. Coming into the village, on the right was the police station, (which has become 'Le Macis'). Opposite the police station - a large house where an old lady rented out furnished rooms (today the Bank Credit Agricole). One of her rooms was lived in by a very, very old gentleman - old to my eyes - more or less 8 years old. Every morning, he waited for us by the side of the road. We didn't ever miss saying ot him, 'Good morning, Mr Martin' and he would reply, 'Good morning, children. Always work hard at school'. And in the evening, he was there for us saying, 'Good evening, children. See you tomorrow maybe.' How I found him to be so nice with his white hair, his blue eyes and his gay smile when he saw us and so sad when we left! And then I was fascinated by this enormous yellow start sewn on to the black coat that he always wore. I didn't know anything at all about the significance of it.
And then one day, there was no M. Martin anymore, nor the next day or the days after that. I learned from one of my little friends that he had been arrested by the police.
Then I forgot about M. Martin. When you're 8 years old, someone arrested by the police can only be a thief or some other kind of bad person.
And then one day in March 1952, just when I had got a job at the town hall as a secretary, a letter came containing a judgement announcing the death of someone of the name Rozen Chil Mayer, known as Martin, whose last place of habitation was Sainte-Hermine.
And everything came back to me of a face and I got to know this terrible story.
The only crime committed by Mr Martin was that he was a Jew. He died because he was deported to Auschwitz. He was 54 years old. His death certificate contained the sentence: 'Died for France'. Later, in May 2001, a document came to the Town Hall, asking to add an official statement on his death 'Died 'in deportation' [as a consequence of being deported?]. It is important that Mr Martin's name is on war memorial in the village. It's very unusual that I came this way these days, on the way to Luçon, without lifting up my eyes to the window of his room (first on the left on the first floor), and it seems as if I can see him there smiling...so sadly.
Jeanne Baradeau
School child in Sainte-Hermine
Secretary in the Town Hall, 1951-1994.
And then one day, there was no M. Martin anymore, nor the next day or the days after that. I learned from one of my little friends that he had been arrested by the police.
Then I forgot about M. Martin. When you're 8 years old, someone arrested by the police can only be a thief or some other kind of bad person.
And then one day in March 1952, just when I had got a job at the town hall as a secretary, a letter came containing a judgement announcing the death of someone of the name Rozen Chil Mayer, known as Martin, whose last place of habitation was Sainte-Hermine.
And everything came back to me of a face and I got to know this terrible story.
The only crime committed by Mr Martin was that he was a Jew. He died because he was deported to Auschwitz. He was 54 years old. His death certificate contained the sentence: 'Died for France'. Later, in May 2001, a document came to the Town Hall, asking to add an official statement on his death 'Died 'in deportation' [as a consequence of being deported?]. It is important that Mr Martin's name is on war memorial in the village. It's very unusual that I came this way these days, on the way to Luçon, without lifting up my eyes to the window of his room (first on the left on the first floor), and it seems as if I can see him there smiling...so sadly.
Jeanne Baradeau
School child in Sainte-Hermine
Secretary in the Town Hall, 1951-1994.