I had a query last year from Anne Sebba who was researching material for a book she was writing about the Auschwitz women’s orchestra. Many of the women had fond memories in Belsen of Margaret Montgomery.
She managed to trace her through a portrait we had on our website. Because today is being marked as 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, I am basing this article on one written then about the remarkable life of this little lady with additional material given to us by the Stewartry Museum.
“Many of the women in the orchestra have fond memories in Belsen of a woman who helped in various ways with organising entertainment and more generally and who they thought was the sister of Monty – Bernard Montgomery. She was Margaret Montgomery but there seems to be no mention of Monty Having any sisters called Margaret. Searching on line today for a picture I found one on Kirkcudbright History Society. And would like to use it in my book but need to know who this woman was and were the orchestra women wrong about her having a famous brother? I would be most grateful for any help you can give me”.
Email received from Anne Sebba.
Margaret was born in Londonderry but many in the town will remember this tiny but indomitable woman from the town. She lived in Kirkcudbright with her sister then, in later life, on her own at Castle Gardens, but in between she was adventurous and brave, giving her time selflessly to others. She married a clergyman, brother of Monty, and lived for while in South Africa and Canada, but the most poignant part of her life was as a red cross nurse.
In this capacity she was one of the first people to enter the concentration camp Bergen-Belsen shortly after its liberation in April 1945. She worked at the camp helping to bring those so close to death back to health. What she saw and experienced can hardly be imagined but she stayed there for 18 months, and in gratitude one of the liberated prisoners painted a portrait of her. The artist was 30 year old Piri Hevizi listed as having been liberated from Bergen-Belson in 1945 but little else is known of her,
although we are still searching. The painted canvas was stretched by one of the soldiers on site and later framed in Kirkcudbright. It has remained in the family ever since. In January 2020 the family came from Ireland to donate this emotionally powerful work to The Stewartry Museum and were thanked for their generous gesture.
The following articles are from the Galloway News 6th. April and the Dumfries Courier 7th April 2000.
