Holocaust survivor and Army veteran receives surprise war medals on 100th birthday

Afterwards, she said she had been “overcome with joy” to receive the medals she hadn’t realised she had been entitled to, adding: “I felt so proud and am still proud I've been in the army. I've done my bit and I want people to know that Jewish people did their bit to fight back.” 

AJEX The Jewish Military Association national chair Dan Fox, who presented Henny with her medals, said: “It was an honour to surprise Henny today. As the ‘Greatest Generation’ become fewer, lasting recognition of their service and commitment is more important than ever. The restoration and reclamation of medals is a striking way of ensuring this.”

The medals presentation was part of a wider AJEX Medals Campaign, which unites Jewish war veterans and their descendants with medals they never received or lost. “[The medals] are artefacts or personal history, but also meaningful to families, communities and the nation. They help us remember what veterans went through and to take pride in what they did”, said Fox.

He added that AJEX would help veterans and their families identify which medals they were entitled to.

The presentation took place at Jewish care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre in Golders Green. Jewish Care CEO Daniel Carmel-Brown said: “It is an amazing gift and the source of much pride for Henny, as a Holocaust survivor and veteran, to be recognised for her service and receive her war medals through AJEX.”

He added that he was “so pleased to wish Henny a happy 100th birthday and to celebrate together with her at Jewish Care’s Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, which she tells us she considers her second home.”