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A Scottish woman who perished during the Holocaust after steadfastly refusing to leave the Jewish children under her care has recently been honoured at the Auschwitz Birkenau Memorial and Museum. Jane Haining’s name has been inscribed on a newly dedicated section of the memorial’s main exhibit, which pays tribute to hundreds of prisoners who were never photographed during registration. These plaques are displayed along a lengthy corridor, positioned alongside images of inmates wearing striped uniforms and with shaved heads.
Jane Haining was born in Dunscore, a village in southern Scotland, and served as the matron of a Church of Scotland school in Budapest from 1932 until 1944. The school she cared for accommodated about 400 day and boarding pupils, ranging from ages six to sixteen, and consisted of both Jewish and Christian girls. The Church of Scotland highlighted her courage in protecting these children throughout the outbreak and duration of World War II. Despite repeated invitations to return safely to Scotland, Haining remained with the children, famously stating, “If these children need me in days of sunshine, how much more do they need me in days of darkness?” Tragically, she was arrested by German officers in April 1944 and deported to Auschwitz the following month.
A spokesperson for the Auschwitz Birkenau Memorial and Museum explained that the corridor featuring Haining’s name serves dual purposes: restoring personal identities to those imprisoned and killed there, and educating visitors about the varied prisoner population at Auschwitz. This week, members of Haining’s family—including Kevin O’Brien, Liz Harrigan, and Patricia Audis—visited the site as part of a study tour organized by the Renfrewshire branch of the Unison trade union.
Deirdre MacDowell, Jane Haining’s niece, reflected on the significance of seeing her aunt’s name permanently memorialized: “To see Jane’s name on a permanent memorial wall makes one ask how is it that she came to be in Auschwitz? And that’s the beginning of her story and it can be told to all who ask about her. Her story is humbling, full of compassion and kindness and makes us think about how we live our own lives – it is a legacy for us all.” A representative from the Church of Scotland described the addition of her name as deeply moving and emphasized the importance of preserving her memory for future generations. “It is more important than ever that people learn the lessons of history and do not make the mistakes of the past,” they said. Meanwhile, plans are underway to officially unveil a new mural in Paisley, where Haining worked before the war, dedicated to celebrating her life and enduring legacy
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