Overview

Dr John Goldsmith, born Hans Goldschmidt, spent his early years in Düsseldorf and Amsterdam, where rising antisemitism, family upheaval and the growing reach of Nazi power reshaped his childhood. Sent to England in 1937, he initially found safety, but at sixteen he was arrested as an ‘enemy alien’ and transported between internment camps in Britain and Canada. The disruption of these years, combined with the loss of many relatives in the Holocaust, profoundly shaped his worldview. After release, John resumed his education and embarked on a medical career that would place him at the forefront of emerging renal medicine in post-war Britain. John became a pioneering nephrologist, establishing lifesaving dialysis services and co-founding Mersey Kidney Research. His memoir intertwines personal resilience with professional innovation, spanning a century of social, medical and historical change. John’s book is part of the My Voice book collection, a stand-alone project of The Fed, the leading Jewish social care charity in Manchester, dedicated to preserving the life stories of Holocaust survivors and refugees from Nazi persecution who settled in the UK. The oral history, which is recorded and transcribed, captures their entire lives from before, during and after the war years. The books are written in the words of the survivor so that future generations can always hear their voice. The My Voice book collection is a valuable resource for Holocaust awareness and education. -- .

Full Product Details

Publisher:   Manchester University Press
Imprint:   Manchester University Press
ISBN:  

9781807073343

ISBN 10:   1807073343
Pages:   176
Publication Date:   31 March 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

My family in Germany Moving to Düsseldorf Living with my grandmother in Bocholt My stepfather Alfred Growing up in Amsterdam How I came to England Settling into life in Cambridge War, bombs and rations Rescuing family members Great losses Interned on my birthday Shipped out to Canada Studying and loss in England Changing to medicine at Guy’s Hospital My first appointments as a qualified doctor My name change and career development National Service in Egypt Working in Birmingham and Central Middlesex Marrying Eve and starting a family Moving to America for research An ideal job opportunity at Sefton in Liverpool Founding Mersey Kidney Research Manager of the Royal Liverpool Hospital My children and grandchildren An expanding family Experiences of the world The Holocaust should be remembered Glossary My Voice volunteers About The Fed -- .

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Author Information

The Fed is Manchester's leading social care charity serving the Jewish community. In June of 2021, The Fed were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service for the My Voice Project, the highest possible accolade for a voluntary sector group. -- .

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