Just seen this on the Belgian/Flemish channel CANVAS. Very good!

I am the instigator of the research in 2000 of my pre war British Memorial School and what happened to the survivors of May 1940 together with me (5 yrs old) and my parents during 6 days from Ieper to Calais.This is now produced in book form THE CHILDREN WHO FOUGHT HITLER and give a detailed description of the British Community from 1919 when my British father married a Belgian girl from Dikkebus.In 2001 I did a first reunion in 60 years and thus discovered Elaine Madden and Steve Grady, yet many were taken in July 1940 to detention camps in Upper Silessia where they spent the war years, and the women to camps in Southern Germany.In 1946 I returned to Belgium with my parents having spent the war years in London and was educated at the Koninklijke Atheneum of which I have fond memories. Yet I have remained an “Ieperling” by birth and affection and am very happy to have transmitted both film and book on our lives as a British community in a rebuilt Ieper.James Fos (Paris)

Greatly moved and fascinated by this remarkable documentary and will buy the book. Some questions.
When was the film shot? Elaine Madden and Steve Grady seemed remarkably youthful for people who must now be 90 years old. Did the school footage show pictures of the people featured? The section showing Elaine Madden in her resistance training and work – is that from a feature film or was it created for the documentary? What happened to the school building?

The footage in the programme showing Elaine Madden in her training was rather misleading as it was in fact foot age taken from the film “Carve her Name with Pride” about SOE operative Violette Szabo. The acress playing the part is Virginia McKenna. My mother in law, Irene Fletcher was one of the children at the school, an it is a fascinating read. Elaine Madden is wonderful woman and a pleasure to see and hear her story told at last for all to enjoy.

13 November 2009. I recently got back from London for the booklaunch with my co author Sue Elliott and some of the survivors of the Ypres School and we are amazed by the large sympathetic comments made about the book and the film. Obviously for Elaine Madden and Steve Grady stock film footage was used it illustrate the same aspects that they had undergone in the second world war. Rene Fletcher (Mrs Lord) gave me the inspiration in 2000 to further research this topic when we met in Ypres 60 years after the school was closed.It has taken me 10 years of searching for survivors and their relatives to massively document this topic which Sue Elliott and I jointly put in book form and encouraged Testimony Films to make the documentary.On 29 October 2009 for the booklaunch I did meet the Lord family again with their daughter Helen who had also been in Ypres’ initial gathering in April 2000.Violette Szabo underwent similar training as that of Elaine Madden and that is why the motion picture footage was inserted. warmest regards.Jimmy Fox (Paris)

I too went to the British Memorial School in Ypres, my mother married an english man and he worked for the war graves commission, my sister luciene and brother lucien,also went to the school, we left ypres in december 1939. I remember it fondly I’m now 78 the youngest of the davis family.

Yours Truly

E c c davis

Comment for Elizabeth Davis from Jimmy Fox. Georgette DAVIS who had lived in Chelmsford, often wrote to me and I also phoned this charming elderly lady whose only wish was to “retire in Poperinghe near Ypres” where she had been brought up before 1940.Elizabeth BOUCHER (Mrs Kelly) a friend who lives in Falmouth recently told me that Eliz. was in a nursing home but I had no contact with any relatives?
Many thanks for your help.Jimmy Fox

Steve Grady was a close friend when, as 19-year-olds, we joined the Intelligence Corps, doing preliminary training at Rhosneigr.
We moved to the ‘I’ Corps depot at Wentworth Woodhouse, where Steve met his future wife. It’s good to know that he is still alive. Please tell him that ‘Ginge’ would love to contact him again. He’ll also remember Graf, Baldilocks (Ted Swann) and George Baker. Steve and I lost contact years ago. I believe he retired to a Greek island.

Steve and I were 19-year-olds when we joined the Intelligence Corps at Rhosneigr, later moving to ‘I’ Corps Depot at Wentworth Woodhouse, where he met hisd future wife. I’d love to contact him again. He told how Resistance workers poured sugar into concrete when making flying-bomb ramps so that the concrete would fall out. Has he still got the cig-roller that stopped a German bullet?

Message to Kevin Heneghan ,I am sure that Steve Grady would be delighted to renew contact with you although he lives in Greece.B.P.63077, Kassandria, Greece. If YOU telephone me 00 33 14577 3422 (Paris) we can discuss this matter personally or leave me your phone contact or email..Happy New Year.Jimmy Fox.

To James Fox – Friday 15 January 2010

Warmest thanks for offering to put me in touch with my old ‘I’ Corps friend, Steve Grady. I’d love to contact him again. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission wrote today to say that the last address they have is 20 years old. I’ll phone you later. Best regards.
Kevin Heneghan

message for Kevin Henegan.15/1/2010.I sent you Grady coordinates in message 26 dec 2009. if unreceived plse phone me at 00 33 1 4577 3422 (Paris) we can discuss matter.

Message for James Fox 16 January 2010
Dear James
It was good to speak to you about Steve Grady this morning. I shall write to him today. I’ll also order a copy of your book ‘The Children Who Fought Hitler.’ Many thanks for sending me Steve’s address. Best regards

Kevin Heneghan

To Kevin Heneghan

I just saw your comments about my father and called him to say that you had been asking after him. Unfortuantely he is of the old school and not computer savvy.. He would be delighted to renew the contact and asked me to pass on his telephone number. So, if you would like to email me (fgrady@hol.gr) I will be pleased to pass on the details.
Kind regards,
Francis

Dear Francis, I have heard of you but never knew how to reach you.Your father and I have been writing since 2001 about the Ypres school and escape and I have worked a lot with Nieppe Municipal Archives and his various friends.It is I who initiated the Sunday Times cover story JIMMY’S WAR and later the book THE CHILDREN WHO FOUGHT HITLER and the Testimony Film crew and my co author Sue Elliott came to see Steve. Please send me by email your phone and address in Greece..Sue and I are going to Ypres next month to give a lecture on the whole story.Look forward to hearing from you on a more personal direct email line.
warmest regards.Jimmy Fox

Dear James,
I’ve also heard all about you… I know you’re the man behind the Sunday Times article and the recent book and documentary. Don’t know how to get your email address so here is mine: fgrady@hol.gr
Look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,Francis

Comment for Peter Leney – While going through some of my 90 year old mother’s things I discovered an envelope addressed to her from Irene Fletcher, Eton Memorial School, Ypres, Belgium. Irene Fletcher and my mother were pen pals…the postmark date is not legible but my mother remembers it was when she was in high school, which would have been around 1935. Is it possible that Irene Fletcher is still living and might she have been my mother’s pen pal?

12 November 2010. I recently was very happy to receive an email from the USA of the son of the pilot who flew the USAF bomber over northern France in which crew member Conrad KERSCH also bailed out and joined up with fellow BMS pupil Conrad KERSCH.In 2001 I had traced records of the plane and the pilots niece only recently found my correspondence in her grandmother’s files when she died.Another reader of THE CHILDREN WHO FOUGHT HITLER book contacted me,and put me in contact with her uncle Leslie IVORY who was a fellow pupil of the Ypres British school.He left in 1939 to join the British Army and remained for the rest of his life as an officer and I traced photos of him in the school playground.
warmest regards.Jimmy Fox 12/11/2010/

I too have read the book, and found it very interesting we the davis family are mentioned because we left Ypres in december 1939, I live in solihull sister luceinne lives in bournemouth& brother luciene lives in adelaide both are in their late 80′s and i’m the youngest 87. it’s nice to keep in touch.

regards

liz davis

I am doing my family tree and found out recently that Elaine Madden is related to me. Her great-grandfather, Michael Madden immigrated to Australia. My great-grandmother Bridget Madden Butler, sister of Michael sent her daughter Margaret Butler (my grandmother) to Canada in 1910 to seek a new life. Would it be possible to contact Elaine Madden? I know she is living near Avignon, France.

25 May 2011. message for Pat Anderson in Australia re her relative Elaine Madden living in France.I emalied you on 23 May with full comments on Elaine and her father,but my meesages are not going through due to a connection problem via the French electronic transmitting firm.I hope this will surface, but would prefer you giving me your full postal address to where I can write with more discretion on this topic.You can email me in Paris at Fox.James@wanadoo.fr, or write an airmail letter to J.Fox,45 rue de Lourmel,Paris 75015.tel oo 33 1 4577 3422.I have not contacted Elaine, as she now has frail health although I know after the war she came to Australia to see her relatives.
Do you have an email number which is not via this tvmole system?
Jimmy Fox.

HI
PLEASE can anyone help me
i would very much like to write to
ELAINE MADDEN soe as i have see the program the children who fought
hitler and love her story
can anyone tell me how to contact her
THANK YOU PAUL HUNT