Ursula’s childhood was spent between an abusive stepfather and a children’s home, and under the brutally anti-Semitic Nazi regime she suffered for the fact that she was half-Jewish - "an undesirable, worthless human being". A soldier who rashly applied to marry her was immediately posted to the Russian front never to be heard of again. Her mother was eventually sent to a concentration camp and although she survived, her health was irreparably damaged and her nerves were shattered. As the war went on, Ursula witnessed the horrific fire-bombing of her beloved Hamburg when "there was no sky, no stars and no world, just a form of hell".

Then when the city was occupied by the victorious Allies, Ursula fell off her bicycle literally into the arms of the love of her life, English soldier Frank Sherratt. She was scorned by her fellow countrymen as a disloyal slut, especially when she became pregnant and had Frank’s baby.

When she eventually got permission to join him in Yorkshire, in 1949, she was treated as an ‘enemy’ by many local people, suffering comments like "the only good German is a dead German". The clacking of tongues never stopped and she learned to build an invisible wall around herself to ward off offensive remarks - although this sometimes led to allegations of arrogance.

This is a remarkable story by a remarkable, brave woman who has been scarred by the worst side of the human race, but also known its generosity and love.

As Frank became more seriously ill, I managed through the days and nights with the help of nurses and carers. Social Services eventually allowed me a sitter to be with Frank to give me some time to myself. After Frank’s death, I completed my story. Susan, our minister’s wife, kindly put it together for me on her computer, and at around this time a leaflet popped through the door about a local leisure group meeting together socially and inviting different speakers. I went along because the next speaker was a lady from Germany. As I got to know the members, I was asked to tell my story and I read my manuscript to them. I am thankful to Stewart Fawthrop from this group who subsequently put me in touch with Léonie Press. I found there was great interest in what I had to say and was subsequently asked to tell my experiences to another ladies’ group.

Although I can't get to the college for classes nowadays I attend a creative writing group at our local library for the pleasure of meeting others and writing poems and short stories.

As I live life alone now, I have many dear friends surrounding me and I wish to express my deepest gratitude to all of them.

Whilst watching German television at home recently, I saw this Irish proverb and thought it so right: "God gave you a face, but you have to do the smiling - so smile!" We all cope with life and sorrow in different ways. My story is about my life and the gauntlets that were thrown down for me - I took on the challenges and tried to smile.

In its "The Diary" section on Wednesday, 22nd November 2006 the Sheffield Star carried a review of the book by Martin Dawes.

Click on the image to see the original of this review.

The Rotherham Advertiser carried a half page interview and review of Ursula Sherratt's book "Ursula - Pain and prejudice" by their feature writer Howard Poucher. Appropriately it shared the page with an article about the Mayor and Mayoress of Rotherham, Cllr and Mrs Peter Wooton, signing the Rotherham Book of Remembrance for National Holocaust Memorial Day (27th January) and inviting their fellow citizens to join them as a mark of respect and remembrance for all the victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution.

Click on the image to see the original of this review.