Jane Hersch

Jane Hersch born Cohen (9 February 1911 London, England - 4 November 1998 Cape Town, South Africa) was the daughter of Harris and Sarah Cohen. She was educated at the London School of Economics and Hillcroft College, Surbiton, Surrey.

During World War Two, she was a child welfare officer for "Save the Children Fund" for the Relief of the War Distressed from 1944-1945. She then was a welfare worker for the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (U.N.R.R.A.) for displaced person from 1945 to 1946 in Egypt and Greece.

She married Meyer Hersch (1913-2004) in Athens, Greece on the 6th July 1946 at the British Embassy. He had served in the Union Defence Force with the President Steyn Regiment and was taken prisoner of war at the battle of Sidi Rezegh. After demobilization, he worked for U.N.R.R.A. Following their marriage, Jane came to South Africa in 1946 and was a partner with her husband in a general dealer's business. They had two children and the family lived in Thaba 'Nchu in the Orange Free State. She was involved in communal affairs in the town and surrounding areas.

Source:

1. South African Jewry 1967-68 Edition. A Survey of the Jewish Community; Its Contributions to South Africa; Directory of Communal Institutions; and a Who's Who of Leading Personalities Feldberg Leon (Editor) Hersch Jane page 277.

2. Jane Hersch. Mountain Route Thaba 'Nchu. Jewish Life in the South African Country Communities Volume V, Goldfields, Mountain Route, Riemland, Southern & Western Free State. The South African Friends of Beth Hatefutsoth page 119-120 2012.

3. Meyer Hersch http://www.jwmww2.org/soldier.aspx?id=6050.