It was almost three years since the first time I arrived at Prague railway main station (Hlavní nádraží), however, it was very recently when I noticed the statues of a gentleman and two children on platform 1. The statue, created by Flor Kent, was unveiled on the 1st of September 2009 as part of a larger commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the last Kindertransport train (also called the Winton train).
The name of the gentleman in the statue is Sir Nicholas Winton (19 May 1909 – 1 July 2015).
Who is he?
That was my first stupid question when I found his name. Then looked him up and I was stunned! He is a British gentleman born in a Jewish family. Later on, his family converted to Christianity and he was baptized.
In brief, he organized the rescue of 669 children, most of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War in an operation later known as "children transportation". Prague railway main station was the embarkation point for the children who were evacuated to London Liverpool Street station via the Port of Harwich.
Due to his exploits, the British press dubbed him the "British Schindler", however, Winton's humanitarian exploits were recognized over 40 years later by his Danish wife, Grete Gjelstrup. In February 1988 his exploits were broadcasted in the BBC television program "That's Life!".
Winton was awarded the highest honor of the Czech Republic, the Order of the White Lion, by Czech President on 28 October 2014.
Such a wonderful man. I was truly moved by his story ::)) x
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