Comments on: Andy Strowman Remembers His Uncle Barney

By: ANDY STROWMAN

ANDY STROWMAN — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:46:47 +0000

John and Marcia .
I appreciate your comments .
Nobody knows what prison is like unless you have been inside it .
The legacy is one of routine or a one or two off .
For Barney it left him shell shocked but his warmth and humour and ability to do magic tricks compensated his detriments .
I worked on the factory Paradise nearby to Ellis and Goldstein when I was fourteen . I hope one day the GA will publish my other Uncle ( David Cohen) and his story .

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:04:52 +0000

So many sad things happen over the years, usually caused by other humans, but ‘Uncle Barney’ sounds like one brave man to have survived it all. Thank you for sharing his story Andy Strowman.

By: John Campbell

John Campbell — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:18:17 +0000

Thanks for this Andy, great memories of an interesting man. You have triggered a massive memory in my mind as my mum worked for Ellis and Goldstein back in the day, we think we remember all the details in our personal history but then a moment like this occurs. Many thanks.

By: ANDY STROWMAN

ANDY STROWMAN — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 15:16:43 +0000

A brief comment to say yes he did have two children of his own with his wife Dolly . You will see her in the front row besides a man with a striped suit . He was my dad’s father David from Ukraine living in America .Barney was a dutiful father .

By: Catherine Morris

Catherine Morris — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:46:57 +0000

Proof that his memory truly is a blessing. Thank you for sharing memories of this lovely man. I hope he had children of his own

By: Frances Donnelly

Frances Donnelly — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:09:22 +0000

A wonderful piece of writing about a wonderful man. I was moved by his courage and conviction in choosing to be a CO in the Second World War. In the completely militarised society of that time, it took great strength of character to serve in another, non militarised capacity, without a uniform just an arm band, and subject to misunderstanding and abuse.

By: Andrew Strowman

Andrew Strowman — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 08:19:13 +0000

I would like to praise the Gentle Author for publishing this and my dear friend Caleb Pearce for putting it all together to send to him.

It is the first time in my life and I am seventy three now that this story has been told in print.
I also would like to thank Karen Rennie for her kind comment.

Yesterday , I had an opportunity to remember how people can gain immunity by knowing people in very high places.It can be very painful all round the world that certain people because of their colour or poverty get targeted by the authorities. It really hurts me as I have known people suffer in my life as a result of it.

Many of us who lived in the East End are very aware of immunity and those who should have faced punishment but never and those who had no chance at all.

Without the “brown envelope job” and a rich relative Uncle Barney would not have lived.

Once again thank you from my heart Gentle Author for publishing this and others you have done and any others to follow not only for me but for people I never knew who have had similar by yourself.

You are a rare person indeed and I thank you sincerely for your kindness.

Andy STROWMAN

By: Karen Rennie ( nee Fishman)

Karen Rennie ( nee Fishman) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:32:03 +0000

Dear Barney….thankyou for sharing this Andy.
He was saved by a loving family and community.