Eighty years on, ‘The Boys’ are remembered

The 80th anniversary of the liberation of “The Boys” – a group of 732 child Holocaust survivors who were brought to Britain in 1945 and 1946 – has been marked with a moving celebration.

The gala at London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel, hosted by the ’45 Aid Society, honoured the resilience and legacy of these survivors who, after enduring ghettos, concentration camps and death marches, found a new home in the UK.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, addressing some 600 guests, called the group “a cherished and vital part of this nation’s history”. She praised their courage and the lives they built, calling the gathering “a triumph of joy” and reaffirming the government’s commitment to the UK Holocaust Memorial.

She also issued a strong condemnation of the current surge in antisemitism, declaring that it would “not be tolerated now or ever”.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper[Missing Credit]

Originally brought to the UK by the Central British Fund (now World Jewish Relief), the survivors arrived in five groups and, despite the affectionate nickname, included 190 girls.

Among "The Boys” was the late Sir Ben Helfgott, a Holocaust survivor and British Olympian, who founded the ’45 Aid Society in 1963. His vision was to support fellow survivors, give back to Britain and ensure the horrors of the Holocaust would never be forgotten.

The event brought together descendants from across the globe , including the UK, Canada, the US, Spain, and Israel. Eighteen  relatives of brothers Solomon, Mendel and Herman Luger attended for the first time.

The evening began with a poignant candle-lighting ceremony, led by eight survivors alongside their grandchildren, each flame symbolising memory, loss and continuity.

Broadcaster Rob Rinder – grandson of one of the “Boys”, Moishe Malenicky – led an emotional on-stage conversation with them, offering guests a deeply personal window into their lives during and after the war. A tribute film captured the breadth of their experiences and the direction their lives took in the decades that followed.

Solemnity was juxtaposed with celebration as Rinder joined TV presenter Susanna Reid in some Israeli dancing.

(l-r) Rob Rinder, Ed Balls and Susanna Reid at the '45 Aid Society's gala dinner[Missing Credit]

Holocaust Memorial co-chairs Ed Balls and Lord Eric Pickles also attended.

Chair of the ’45 Aid Society Angela Cohen said afterwards: “Our family members travelled from across the globe to celebrate the legacy of ‘The Boys’. Though they endured unspeakable horrors, they taught us the art of simcha – joy in life. With antisemitism as rife as it is now, their message of love over hate has never been more vital.

“It was very special to see the ’45 Aid family growing, with even further involvement this year by the third and even fourth generation, as the legacy of the ‘Boys’ passes down to the next generations.”

Guests were able to view a photography exhibition, curated by Julia Burton, and a commemorative journal, created by her husband Philip Burton.

A new website and Instagram page – @45 –  were also launched, aiming to preserve survivor stories and educate future generations.