Becklingen to Celle – 32km
22C
Terrain: cycle routes and road
Wow, so I made it to Celle today! Can’t really believe it! 830km into the journey my legs need a bit of a rest but I’m just so so happy to be here and to have completed my gran’s journey as a refugee after WW2, always the most important part for me.
Leaving Becklingen this morning, while I hadn’t been aware of the military zone yesterday (see blog post for the reason why!), the military was definitely practicing at 8am this morning, it sounded a bit like being in a war zone as I was leaving but with no damage.
Strangely and wonderfully, one of the ladies at the B&B I was staying at was called Ille. This is what my gran, whose name was actually Ilse, is called in Germany. It made me smile.
Lots more beautiful forest today and more honesty boxes but this time, potatoes. Loved these little kiosks that I came across.
No podcasts or earphones today. I just wanted to make sure that I was in the moment, appreciating this amazing experience and thinking of my gran and what she went through on her journey as a refugee. She even made the sun come out for a beautiful (and warm) day.
I still find it difficult to imagine what it must have been like for her and others (then and today) and can only begin to understand the suffering both physically with her horribly blistered feet and lack of food and drink and psychologically, not knowing what had happened to her family.
Interestingly I was talking to my Uncle Peter tonight (he has joined me in Celle to help me with some family research, amazing) and we were just saying how much that generation witnessed, essentially the worst humanity has to offer. They had every reason to be negative and possibly nasty people after everything they had been through but in my experience it’s the complete opposite. My gran was one of the kindest, warmest, most generous and loveliest people I will ever meet. I miss her and hope she’s able to experience this in some way.
As this marks the end of her journey, here is the last snippet from her story in her own words:
“In July we arrived at Lilo’s home in Celle where her mother and brother made me very welcome. We had walked over three hundred kilometers. Lilo’s brother had TB and died while I was there. Lilo’s mother called a doctor to help us regain our health and re-educate our stomachs to eat without being sick. We then went to look for work at the airfield at Wintzenbruch and were taken on as cleaners. The personnel staff applied for papers for me as I had no identification or ration card. It was here that I met my husband who was working in the kitchens. As I had only two dresses my husband went back to Blankenese to pick up the suitcase I had left there. Towards Christmas I moved to lodgings to another house and then I moved in with Irmgard Bose where I stayed until December 1947 when I left for England. I was married the 18th July 1947 in Germany.
I never stopped trying to trace my family and finally went to the Rathaus (town hall) in Celle where they told me to write a letter to my old home address in Neurese (Unieradz today). I did this and at the beginning of 1947 I received a card from my mother. They were still in the East and the authorities would only let her write a card to say that they were alive and well. I was overjoyed. At this time my father wasn’t home. We wrote to each other frequently but all letters were scrutinised. My husband wanted to get married and go back to England but I wouldn’t leave without news of my family.
My family had suffered a lot. Before the Russians took my father away my family found a German soldier Paul Lemke who was badly wounded and dying. With enormous risk they cared for him in the attic of the house. He later had a lung removed. He married my youngest sister Gertrude on 14th August 1953. After they married they went to the West with their three children. They were allowed to go as Paul’s parents were in Schleswig Holstein. Paul and Gertrude then started applications to have my parents sent to the West. There was a requirement that refugees had to have a house ready for them so Paul looked for a house and finally found a barrack in Leck. My parents eventually were allowed out in October 1958 and at Christmas of that year I took my family to spend Christmas with them in Leck. I hadn’t seen them for fourteen and a half years. It was a very emotional time.”
NB. For other parts of her story, see blog posts on days 31 and 37.
Just makes me realise how easy and trouble free our lives are in comparison. Such strong and wonderful people.
I also want to say how grateful I am and to THANK EVERYONE for the amazing support so far. It inspires me every day.
Wow Viv! What an inspirational journey you have been on! I have really enjoyed reading your blog, and hearing your grans story makes me realise how lucky and privileged our lives are. What a fantastic achievement for you and raising awareness for the Red Cross. ‘Well done’ doesn’t quite cover it! Lots of love from Lauren and Mark xx
Hi Lauren and Mark,
Thank you so much! Such lovely words. A couple of days rest before continuing on so the journey will continue. Will just have to see how far I get! Really hope you are both well and thank you for the amazing support. Would be great to see you when I’m back.
Thanks again,
Viv
Xx
Viv, huge congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone! Your grandmother’s story is so moving – particularly the length of time she was separated from her family, and the pain and fear she must have experienced. It’s incomprehensible to me what they, and refugees today experienced and you are doing something incredible to raise awareness and money for the Red Cross.
Have a well deserved break before the next leg of your journey. Keep going, and keep inspiring!
Mawgan xxx
Thanks so very much. I completely agree with what you say, it really is difficult to imagine.
Really hope you guys are well and thanks for the amazing support.
Lots of love
Xx
You did it! 😀
You can be proud of you.
have pushed you the thumbs.
I’m happy for you.
Move on!
Ingo
Thank you Ingo! Moving on in a couple of days!
Massive congratulations Viv! Am so proud of you, and more importantly I know that your gran would be bursting with pride right now. Keep it up hun, you’re amazing xxxxxxx
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