In memory of Max Lewinsky
Max arrived in Britain in 1939 as a refugee from Vienna. He left behind a successful career as a choreographer and dancer. In December 1939, tribunals were held to assess refugee loyalty to Britain. Max was categorised as low risk and sent to work on farms in South Wales. However, Winston Churchill became fearful of spies and sent most refugee men, including Max, to internment camps as “enemy aliens”.
On 10 July 1940, Max boarded the HMT Dunera which left Liverpool with the crew mistakenly believing they were carrying 2,500 prisoners of war. The refugee internees arrived in Sydney, Australia, on 6 September and were transported to Hay Internment Camp. There, they could organise their own leisure time: football, lectures, music, shows etc. With his background in entertainment, Max volunteered to help with the shows.
A year later he returned to Liverpool to join the Pioneer Corps at Ilfracombe, Devon. He worked on railways and building camps for US troops.
Identified as a fluent German speaker loyal to Britain, Max was called to a top-secret interview in London to become a British Commando. For this role, he was given a fake cover story, false names for his next-of-kin and a new name, Max Laddy. He was billeted in Aberdyfi where he joined 3 Troop 10 Inter-Allied Commando for training in Snowdonia. Here, Max met Margaret Rees from Aberdyfi. They were married in July 1943.
Max was killed on a landing craft approaching Sword Beach in Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944. He died a month before the birth of his daughter. Max is buried in a small secluded cemetery at Hermanville, near Caen.
Return to Aberdyfi Commando memorial page
Return to Aberdyfi war memorial page
