Z1205/245

Male. Ukraine Migrant, Former Brickworker at Ridgmont for 35 years b. 07.03.1928 SIDE A (00 mins)Born in Borchue, Ukraine, had 2 sisters. Remembers the war under German occupation, dug trenches for the Germans. His father was a bricklayer, who built his own house. Did not work as such during the war. (5 mins)Up to 1939 the town was under Polish rule. Then the Red Army came and joined all the Ukraine with Russia. Polish was no longer taught in the schools, but Russian & Ukrainian was. There was bitterness towards the new occupying force, especially towards Communism because of its religious persecutions. The local people were Greek Orthodox. The local pastor was murdered by the KGB. (10 mins)People were persecuted or even murdered for their religious beliefs. Under the German occupation it was just as bad. People were taken forcibly to Germany to work. Some Ukrainians joined the Underground Army to rebel against the occupation. Those that got caught were shot. Some retaliation made against civilians including children. Half of the town population were Jews. Rounded up by Gestapo to send them to ghettos behind wires, gradually sent them away by trains. (15 mins)One of the effects on local population was that when the harvest was poor they starved - there was no food to be had in the shops. People who could not grow food were made to work for the Germans. In 1959, when Kruschev had came to power, he was allowed to write home. His mother and sister have died. He has never gone back home since the war. Now he would like to go back just to visit, not to live there, but he feels his family is here (England). After the war he was in a refugee camp in the American Zone in Bavaria. (20 mins)The Americans offered him the possibility to go anywhere, but it was not safe to go back to his home town. He chose England because it was nearer to Ukraine. He was then 19 years old and it would have been more easy to return home to his family. He had learned a bit of English from the Americans, spoke German, Russian, Polish and Ukraine. Came via Holland to Harwich. The first camp was near Cambridge.Went to work on a farm in Scotland. Lived in former army camps, and was transported by lorries to various farms where needed. He arrived in England on a rainy day in July 1948. (25 mins)He remembers how the beautiful summers in Ukraine were, sufficiently warm to grow oranges but very cold winters. A lot of new tractors on the farms, Ferguson was one. He saw when they first started to pick potatoes with machines. Worked for 8 hours a day doing all sorts of jobs. Food was good, cooked for them in a canteen. In the American camp food was plentiful and very good. Went to evening classes to learn English language. Likes to read a lot but finds writing more difficult. Surplus of workers in Scotland, volunteered to come to Bedfordshire to work for the brick industry. (30 mins) End of side A Side B (00 mins)Arrived in Bedfordshire at the end of 1949, went to live at Wing hostel. There were a lot of nationalities at the hostel. Stayed there for 7 months. Worked at Marston Valley Brick Company on the Ridgmont site. There were buses for the workers to go to work. His wage was (circa) £7 per week. Started working in paint department, then drove a battery operated fork lift, the (Lister), picking up some 500 bricks at one time. Then moved to piece work as a Setter for 5-6 years. Then changed to Drawer and finished as Fork Lift Driver. After Wing hostel he moved to Marston hostel in Station Road Marston. (05 mins)Mixed nationalities at Marston hostel including some Italians. Met his future wife at work. She was English and worked on the presses. Did not like dancing, went to bingo a lot. Bought a Ford Prefect car. Though there were a lot of different nationalities at work he was never treated badly - never noticed any discrimination. A good friendly atmosphere with everyone. Was given a company house (rented) at Brogborough after he got married. Then, his wage was about £35 and the rent was about £8 a week. The rent went up when London Brick Company took over. (10 mins)When the company's houses were sold he was offered a good deal, but did not buy his. He felt he was too old. The biggest change at work was when the company was taken over by London Brick and there was less of a big family feeling. Feels the emissions from the brick works did not do any damage to the environment or humans. People used to comment on how healthy the children were. They could smell the sulphur when the wind came in their direction, but were not worried about the effects. (15 mins)Feeling of sadness about the demolished brickworks - prefers the looks of the brickworks chimneys, rather than the sheds of the retail park. Had part-time work for a while. Now does some gardening. Original Interview 50 mins.

13 October 2003

From: 1925 To: 2003

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Marston Valley Brick Company Limited,
London Brick Company

brick worker, German Army, trench foot, Polish, Ukrainians, Russians, LANGUAGE, race issues, religious education, JEWS, occupation, World War Two, POVERTY, Hanger, DEATH, American Army, LANGUAGE, army officer, farm worker, lodging houses, wages/conditions, Italians, gambling, pollution, gardening, Ukraine, RIDGMONT, Borchue, Germany, Bavaria, Harwich, Cambridge, Scotland, Wing, MARSTON MORETAINE, BROGBOROUGH