From Piotrków to the concentration camps

Sam Gardner was born in 1925 as Shmuel Yankel Golberg in Piotrków, Poland. His youth was brutally interrupted by the outbreak of the Second World War.

Following the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Jewish population faced persecution, repression and escalating terror. In 1942, Sam and his father were sent to perform forced labour in a munitions factory. A year later, they were deported to Buchenwald concentration camp, where they lost the last of their personal possessions – cherished family photographs.

In 1944, while imprisoned at the Schlieben labour camp, Sam was separated from his father. He never saw him again.

In April 1945, Sam was transported to Mauthausen concentration camp. The journey took place in overcrowded cattle wagons, without food, water or basic sanitation. Of the 2,000 people who endured this horrific transport, only 42 survived. Sam was one of them.

The liberation of the camp by American soldiers marked the moment of his rescue. Sam would later describe the Americans as “angels from heaven”.

A new life in Britain

After the war, Britain agreed to accept 1,000 young refugees. Sam was among approximately 300 surviving boys who were brought to Windermere in northern England.

He later settled in Manchester, where he began rebuilding his life, started a family and eventually became a father to two daughters, a grandfather to four grandchildren and a great-grandfather to two great-grandchildren.

His story, told by his daughter

Sam Gardner’s story will be presented by his daughter, Maralyn Turgel, a retired teacher with more than 40 years of experience in education, specialising in working with children with special educational needs.

Although she grew up in a family deeply affected by the trauma of war, Maralyn did not learn the full story of her father’s experiences until she was 45.

In 2018, she travelled to Poland to research her father’s wartime history. Drawing on the materials she gathered and her father’s own testimony, she created a presentation that she now shares with new generations.

Her presentation is not simply a remembrance of the tragic events of the past. It also carries an important message for the world today, a warning about extremism and discrimination, as well as a call for tolerance, respect and the courage to speak out against injustice.

“Between Life and Death” exhibition

Those attending the event will also have the opportunity to visit the travelling exhibition “Between Life and Death: Stories of Rescue During the Holocaust” beforehand.

The exhibition presents stories of people who helped save lives during the Holocaust, highlighting courage, compassion and the difficult moral choices people faced during wartime.

Organisers encourage visitors to arrive early to explore the exhibition before the talk begins.

Event information

• Event: The Story of Holocaust Survivor Sam Gardner
• Speaker: Maralyn Turgel
• Partner organisation: Generation 2 Generation
• Date: Wednesday, 11 November 2026
• Time: 7:00 pm–8:30 pm
• Venue: Chipping Barnet Library, London
• Audience: Adults
• Admission: Free, booking required

Each attendee must have their own ticket, which should be presented either electronically or as a printed copy.

Book your free place:

Reserve your tickets here: https://barnet-libraries.played.co/venues/f83247bf-34c6-4aaa-925b-e81d7452890a/sessions/de8a7fc4-61ca-4351-928a-22a1f533774a

Anyone requiring additional accessibility support can contact the organisers at: libraryevents@barnet.gov.uk.

A story that should be passed on to future generations

Sam Gardner’s story is a testimony to unimaginable suffering, but also to the strength of a man who was able to rebuild his life despite everything he had endured.

The event at Chipping Barnet Library offers an opportunity to learn about the life of a man born in Poland who survived one of the darkest chapters of 20th-century history. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the importance of remembrance, personal responsibility and standing against hatred..

Admission is free, but places are limited. Early booking is recommended.