In 2019, I was lucky enough to mentor a keen Year 7 student who joined the ‘Zest’ program at the high school I teach at, Roseville College. This student chose to research a man called Charles Coward – ironic as his surname in no way reflects his actions.
When this student was researching him, she told me that he has the title ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ and he has a memorial at Yad Vashem in Israel. Knowing I was going there, I excitedly told her I would find his memorial and take a photo.
For some context, let me explain what ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ means:
The Righteous Among the Nations, honored by Yad Vashem, are non-Jews who took great risks to save Jews during the Holocaust. Rescue took many forms and the Righteous came from different nations, religions and walks of life. What they had in common was that they protected their Jewish neighbors at a time when hostility and indifference prevailed.
Source: Yad Vashem, About Righteous Among the Nations
As of 1 January 2019, Yad Vashem has recognized 27,362 Righteous Among the Nations from 51 countries.
Charles Coward on his visit to Israel, 1962
Charles Coward’s story is below:
During World War II, a captured British soldier holding the rank of sergeant major, helped to save a number of Jews, while interned near Auschwitz. Coward joined the British army in 1924, and served five years in India. In 1940 he fought on the French front, was wounded and captured at Dunkirk. He escaped from captivity several times, was recaptured and eventually interned in Monowitz camp, near Auschwitz. During this time, he became known as the “Count of Auschwitz.” Coward had the idea of collecting precious chocolate and cigarettes from his fellow British prisoners, and exchanging them with Auschwitz guards for dead bodies. He substituted these bodies for Jewish inmates who were then helped to escape. A book about the bravery of Charles Coward, written by John Castle, The Password is Courage (1954) was filmed. Coward visited Israel in 1962.
Source: Yad Vashem, Righteous Among the Nations
On February 16, 1965, Yad Vashem recognized Charles Coward as Righteous Among the Nations.
For me, Righteous Among the Nations reminds me of the goodness and humanity in people during the most inhumane of times, of the tens of thousands of people who sacrificed for the sake of those who were in danger and who couldn’t protect themselves. They saved lives and did so at great expense.
History and Memory in the Holy Land 