In the summer of 1944, Edit Shtayner spent four months in the Auschwitz camp and was rescued by British soldiers at a time when prisoners were being exchanged.
The Jews in Hungary joined the concentration camp. The rest of Edit’s family died in the gas chambers. After the conquest of the camp by Soviet troops, all prisoners were taken to Bergen-Belsen, where they were rescued by naval soldiers.
John Mackey was also a prisoner of war. He escaped from a prisoner of war camp in Italy, dressed in the uniform of Italian soldiers.
And after 18 months of travel, he did not stop participating in fights. He was the member of the team that participated in rescuing Edit and her comrades.
Once they reached a safe distance, they began to celebrate liberation. During the party, Edit and John met. John asked a friend to go and ask Edit if she agreed to dance with him. Edit replied that she would dance only if John himself invited her.
Everything went perfectly. Eventually, the couple settled in Scotland and had their wedding in July 1946. The lovers are now the parents of two children, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Being retired, they run a small hotel in Scotland.
Recently, they moved to a nursing home in Broughty Ferry, Dundee. John turned 96 and Edit turned 92.
“They still love and care for each other,” said Pamela Shaw, a nursing home nurse.
No story has impressed me as much as this!