A young refugee in Shefford

This story was submitted by Maxine Leith for Three Counties Action on behalf of Charles ‘Wag’ Handscombe and has been added to the site with his permission. The author fully understands the site’s terms and conditions.

Rudolf was 10 years old in 1941 when, as a Jew he was forced to flee Germany and become a refugee in England. He stayed with the Handscombes on their farm in Shefford until Autumn 1944. One day, Mrs Handscombe had left Rudolf some tea then went out. When the young Wag Handscombe came home Rudolf was calling “Charlie, Charlie!!” Wag said, “What’s the matter?” and Rudolf replied, “The goat’s come to tea and eaten all the sugar and my cake.” Rudolf was as white as a ghost. “Help me, help me!” he shouted. “Come on Gerdi out you come,” said Wag. Poor old Rudolf, he didn’t live it down because when he went to school, his classmates kept saying to him, “Has the goat come to tea today?” Then one day Wag saw the Rabbi who said, “Has the goat been to tea today Charles.” Wag replied “No not lately I don’t let him come anymore, it will frighten Rudolf to death.”

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