Story of how Polish children arrived
More than 700 child refugees arrived in 1944
PIn time, we went our own ways, so never kept in touch. Maybe some Polish folk may recognise these girls? Marion Hunt (nee Evans)
ahiatua’s 733 Polish children landed in Wellington on November 1, 1944 — 78 years ago. They were New Zealand’s first refugees, having been ethnically cleansed from their homes in eastern Poland by the Russian Secret Police, under Stalin’s orders, at the start of World War II.
They travelled by train to Pahiatua Railway Station, where they were transported by 33 army trucks to the former Internment Camp, 3km south of Pahiatua — whose official name was now the Polish Children’s Camp in Pahiatua.
Their story of being deported in cattle wagons to forced-labour camps thousands of miles away throughout the Soviet Union, is recorded in the book New Zealand’s First Refugees, on sale at the Pahiatua Museum for $40 and also lovely cards for $5 with all proceeds going to the upkeep of the museum. The museum is very interested in
having these memories of locals recorded to not only highlight the history of the Polish children, but of an event which involved our community. Local, Marion Hunt (nee Evans), remembers as a teenager, the day the Polish children arrived in Pahiatua. “It was very moving to see all these children in army trucks, going to the camp,” she said.
“My two friends, Joyce and Daphne Church (whose mother was a McCardle before her marriage) and myself were allowed to visit the camp on Sunday afternoons. We made
friends with two girls (photographed) Helena and Veronica. They took us around the camp and I can remember the dormitories, with all the beds lined up with grey blankets — very neat and tidy. The girls let us try their Polish bread, which was very dark in colour. “In time, we went our own ways, so never kept in touch. Maybe some Polish folk may recognise these girls?” she said.
Pahiatua Museum has a special Polish room and a grotto outside, which was dedicated for the Polish children.