SALLY NOACH

Disbelief

Pictures

My father was an avid photographer and filmmaker.
His personal archive not only comprised of many letters and documents, but also included a large size photo album. This album contains dozens of pictures, which I presume were taken in London in the period 1943 – 1945. There is no mention of dates, and only first names have been listed unfortunately. I have divided these pictures into five categories:

  • Huize Florys (Florys house), where my father was able to rest and relax for a few weeks after his arrival in London.
  • Oranjehaven, the gathering place of the ‘Engelandvaarders’, where he got appointed as Honorary Member.
  • Department of Home Affairs, who were 'willing' to employ my father at one of their institutions.
  • London, pictures of Hyde Park and surrounding streets.
  • Personal portraits, carried out on assignment.

I have also added some post-war photos which are directly related to the period 1940 – 1945.

Naturally, any suggested additions or improvements to this content would be very much appreciated.

The Dutch government felt that the ‘uncivilised’ diplomat needed to comply more with the (German and Vichy-French) rules. The high class and often anti-semitic members of the Dutch diplomatic service didn’t naturally gel with Sally Noach, an uneducated seller of carpets.

Sally’s son Jacques Noach (London, 1946) carried out extensive research into the ‘Sally Noach File’ and discovered some shocking revelations about the ‘support’ the London-based Dutch government provided to Dutch refugees. If it had been down to the Dutch civil servants, all Dutch refugees would have immediately been sent back from France to occupied Holland. There were also clear signs of a ‘politically correct’ form of antisemitism. Sally was discredited by the Dutch government and referred to as ‘uncivilised’. The Dutch Consul-General in France, Ate Sevenster articulated it clearly: “Jewish refugees are the lowest class.”

In 1969, Sally Noach was awarded the Royal Dutch Honorary Cross by Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. From the Dutch government however, Sally received only contempt. He published his war memoirs, titled “It had to be done” in 1971. Those memoirs have been included within this book.