Person    | Male  Born 19/5/1909  Died 1/7/2015

Sir Nicholas Winton

Categories: Children, Peace

Sir Nicholas George Winton MBE was a British banker and humanitarian who established an organisation to rescue children at risk from Nazi Germany. Born to German-Jewish parents who had emigrated to Britain at the beginning of the 20th century, Winton supervised the rescue of 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia on the eve of WW2. Winton found homes for the children and arranged for their safe passage to Britain. This operation was later known as the Czech Kindertransport (German for "children's transport").

Born in Hampstead as Nicholas George Wertheim. His parents were German Jews who had moved to London two years earlier. They changed the family name to Winton and converted to Christianity. In 1938-9 he became involved, with others, in the work to get Jewish children out of Europe before the war began. Only Britain and Sweden agreed to take children. America was asked but failed to take any.

His rescue work was unknown until 1983 when he became a national hero and was honoured. Died, aged 106, in Slough.

There are statues of Winton at Prague railway station (by Flor Kent) and at Maidenhead railway station.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Sir Nicholas Winton

Creations i

Kindertransport - Kent

{Carved into the right side of the plinth:} Pro dítě {Czech for “for the chil...

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Other Subjects

Training ship Arethusa

Training ship Arethusa

Training ships were run by the Marine Society, and catered for boys from a wide range of backgrounds; from fee-paying prospective Merchant Navy officers, through those in Poor Law or other institut...

Vehicle, Children, Tragedy, Transport, Crimea

2 memorials
Newbery Medal

Newbery Medal

From Wikipedia: a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association (ALA). The award is given to the author of the most disting...

Concept, Children, Literature, USA

1 memorial
Joy Harman

Joy Harman

One of the 11 "children of England" present on 7th July 1933 when The Princess Royal laid a foundation stone for a nurses home for the Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

Person, Children

1 memorial
Eton Mission Rowing Club

Eton Mission Rowing Club

From Hear the Boat Sing: "EMRC has a fascinating history and was started in the East London docklands in the late 19th century by a group of old Etonians, who saw it as their mission to help boys i...

Group, Children, Sport / Games

1 memorial
Sir Alan Johnstone

Sir Alan Johnstone

Diplomat. Attended Eton, 1871-7. See his brother Francis for family information.  Married an American heiress Antoinette Pinchot. His job took him to Denmark, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Luxemb...

Person, Children, Politics & Administration, Social Welfare

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Wandsworth VCs and GCs

Wandsworth VCs and GCs

SW18, Fairfield Street, front garden

These plaques are to the north of the fountain in the front garden of Wandsworth Town Hall, on Fairfield Street. The time capsule stone i...

War dead, War served | WW1, WW2, Other war
20 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Charlie Paynter

Charlie Paynter

E6, Ladysmith Avenue, 36

Charlie Paynter, 1879 - 1970, lived here. West Ham United FC manager 1932 - 1950. Involved with the club and Thames Ironworks FC for more...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
John and Thomas Felton

John and Thomas Felton

SE16, George Row, Former Felton Hall

We photographed the plaque some years ago, but did not get a picture of the building on which it was located. We have checked around the ...

2 subjects commemorated
King Edward VIII

King Edward VIII

Born as Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, at White Lodge in Richmond Park. Known to friends and family as David.  Reigned 20 January - 10 December 1936 when he abdicated in favo...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

17 memorials
Inigo Jones

Inigo Jones

Architect and stage designer. Born near Smithfield. Never married. He studied architecture in Italy and brought the new Palladian designs to Britain. Became Surveyor of the King's Works, the king's...

Person, Architecture, Seriously Famous

4 memorials