The Millisle Farm in Co Down

Access pupil resources by clicking on the bottom right of this page.

The story of the Refugee Resettlement Farm, which existed in Millisle, County Down from 1938 to 1948, is one of the little-known ‘secret histories’ of World War II in Northern Ireland.

Jewish children, who escaped on Kindertransports, and other refugees from Nazi terror found refuge in a remote farm on the Ards peninsula in the late 1930s. The Belfast Jewish community had leased the farm to provide a home and living for these refugees. In Millisle and Donaghadee the local communities, including Millisle Primary School, proved to be firm friends of the farm, providing help with whatever was needed.

Former farm residents have warm memories of life on the farm and although times were hard, especially in waiting for news of relatives, they were grateful for the chance of life that it provided for them.

Use the resources below right to learn more about the people from “The Farm.”

A kinder place; a different world

 

  • A meal at the farm
    A meal at the farm
  • Alma and Sepp Bamberger and Elma Horn
    Alma and Sepp Bamberger and Elma Horn
  • Children at Millisle farm (Images W Kammerling)
    Children at Millisle farm (Images W Kammerling)
  • Crops growing on the farm
    Crops growing on the farm
  • Erwin Isler and Leo Dux with calves
    Erwin Isler and Leo Dux with calves
  • Eugene Patrasz, farm manager
    Eugene Patrasz, farm manager
  • Group at the farm
    Group at the farm
  • Group at the farm including Yakobi
    Group at the farm including Yakobi
  • Group including Walter Kammerling( Back right)
    Group including Walter Kammerling( Back right)
  • Group of girls
    Group of girls
  • Harry Borgenicht with calf
    Harry Borgenicht with calf
  • Herr Mundheim, the Renner family and others
    Herr Mundheim, the Renner family and others
  • In the workshop
    In the workshop
  • Millisle Primary School Roll Book
    Millisle Primary School Roll Book
  • Moshe , the cobbler
    Moshe , the cobbler
  • Mundheim building under construction
    Mundheim building under construction
  • Other farm workers
    Other farm workers
  • Patrasz with Dublin volunteers
    Patrasz with Dublin volunteers
  • Planting vegetables
    Planting vegetables
  • Ploughing
    Ploughing
  • Refugee group at Millisle farm 1940s
    Refugee group at Millisle farm 1940s
  • Walter Pauber ploughing in Millisle
    Walter Pauber ploughing in Millisle
  • Working outside the boys' dormitories
    Working outside the boys' dormitories