On the recent seventh Berlin excursion by the History Department, students visited the British Embassy for a talk and tour with the Deputy British Ambassador to Germany. In the foyer of the Embassy which was rebuilt following the Re-unification of Germany, is a memorial to Frank Foley.
Frank Foley was born in 1884, worked for the Foreign Office and became Head of the British Passport Control Office in Germany. He was, in fact, Britain’s most senior spy in Berlin. During his time in Berlin, Foley is known to have saved an estimated 10,000 German Jews. This remarkable man also visited internment camps to get Jewish people out, hide them in his home, and helped forge passports.
Frank Foley was born in Somerset, but moved to Stourbridge after the War. During his lifetime, Foley received no recognition for his actions in the UK. However, in 1999, Foley’s actions resulted in his being recognised as ‘Righteous Amongst the Nations’ at Yad Vashem in Israel. On 24 November 2004, the 120th anniversary of Foley’s birth, a plaque was unveiled in his honour at the British Embassy in Berlin.
Students laid a poppy wreath at Frank Foley’s memorial on behalf of Old Swinford Hospital.