Harry Spiro’s family was his biggest reward and strongest revenge

Harry Spiro was nothing short of a miracle.

As a young boy enduring the horrors of the Holocaust, his life existed on a razor’s edge. The future looked fragile and often lost. But he survived with a quiet inner hope that became his loudest message and strongest revenge.

Harry was only 10 years-old when Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. A month later, his hometown of Piotrków Trybunalski became the first city to establish a ghetto. All Jews, including Harry, his father Lazar, mother Tamma and younger sister Gita, were forced to live in dire conditions characterised by overcrowding, disease and starvation.

Despite being a child, Harry was forced to work in a glass factory. He also tried to help his family in whatever way he could, even smuggling food into the ghetto. The Nazis soon started to shoot anyone caught smuggling. Harry’s mother begged him to stop, always telling him, ‘Living is the most important thing’.

In October 1942, the Nazis ordered everyone to stay in their homes unless they had work permits. Harry refused to leave his family and held onto his mother. But she unwrapped his arms from her waist, physically pushed him out of the door and said, ‘hopefully one of us will survive’. These words summoned tears and applause every time he shared his testimony and became powerful last words which Harry held onto for the rest of his life.

Whilst Harry was at the factory, the ghetto was liquidated and 22,000 inhabitants, including his family, were taken to Treblinka, where they were murdered. The factory workers were then moved to a smaller ghetto of around 2,000 people.

Harry was then sent to a labour camp in Czestochowa, working on munitions. With the Soviet Army advancing, Harry was moved again to Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany, and then again to a satellite camp called Rehmsdorf. The conditions were unbearable. With the war coming to a close, the prisoners were sent to Terezin in Czechoslovakia, first by train and then on foot. 3,000 people started the march; only 270 made it to the camp, which was finally liberated by Soviet soldiers.

Harry came to Britain in 1945 as part of a group of teenage boys and girls who became known as ‘The Boys’. Recuperating in Windermere and learning English, Harry went on to become a tailor and have his own shop. He also married and had three children, who taught him what his mother’s final words to him truly meant. He would always recall that seeing his young children play one shabbat, he said to himself ‘Mum you were right’ and ‘Hitler you did not succeed’.

His quiet reflections held so much strength, hope and, above all, life. They characterise so much of what was special and remarkable about Harry. He spoke softly, endorsed hope over revenge, was humble and gentle and yet his message would ring loud and clear, reaching even the most disengaged students. From students to footballers to parliamentary figures, he inspired and moved everyone he met, never accepting praise or acclaim but always being so deserving of it.

His family was his biggest reward and strongest revenge. He adored his wife Pauline, and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the heart of his success. Whenever I saw him or spoke to him on the phone, he would say he had no complaints, because how could he when he had such a wonderful wife. It was always his reply and always said with a playfulness that did not diminish its sincerity. His family was everything, and a true fulfilment of his mother’s wishes.

Harry and his mother were right. Living is the most important thing and Harry’s was a life beautifully, courageously and lovingly lived.