Mary Nieman was born in April 1874 in Velini, Russia. She was married to Benjamin Nieman (c.1873-1915) and they came to England in circa 1902.
The census return form completed by her husband on 2 April 1911 shows her listed as Mary Nyman, aged 38 years and living in three rooms within at 39 Spelman Street, Spitalfields, London, with her husband and two sons Louis Nyman (1896-1927), aged 15 years, who had been born in Velini, Russia and Michael Nyman (1907-1940), aged 4 years, who had been born in Spitalfields. Her husband stated that his wife had given birth to three children, but that only two were still alive. When he signed the census return form, his spelt his surname as Neiman and he listed himself as a cabinet maker. He also claimed that he and his wife had been born in Velini, Russia.
When she completed her census return form on 19 June 1921 she claimed she was aged 45 years, 6 months and a widow who had been born in Astropoli, Russia. She was living in two rooms within 98 Cricketfield Road, Hackney, London, with her three surviving children: Louis Neiman, aged 25 years, 10 months - a cabinet maker working on his own account at 67 Virginia Road, Bethnal Green, London; Michael Nieman, aged 14 years, 3 months - in whole time education and Abraham Nieman (1911-1940), aged 10 years, 1 month - also in whole time education.
The England and Wales Register that was compiled on 29 September 1939 lists her date of birth as just April 1874. She was shown as on unpaid domestic duties and living at 99 Virginia Road, Bethnal Green, with her two surviving sons: Michael Nieman - a ledger clerk and Abraham Nieman - a cabinet maker.
She was still residing at this address when she was killed by a German bomb that was dropped on the Columbia Market air raid shelter on the night of 7th/8th September 1940. Her death was registered, aged 66 years, in the 3rd quarter of 1940 in the Bethnal Green Registration District and her body was buried in , 291 Montagu Road, London, N18 2NF.
She is shown as 'NEIMAN Mary 66' on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial in the Rose Garden, Old Market Square, Ravenscroft Park, London, E2.
She is also commemorated on the , on the and in that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey.
Interestingly, both Michael and Abraham Nieman died about the same time, dying on 9 September 1940 and on 10 September 1940, both at St Leonard's Hospital, Nuttall Street, London, N1 5LZ. Their deaths were registered in the Shoreditch Registration District, London. It is not clear if they too were sheltering in the Columbia Market air raid shelter or whether they were injured elsewhere by German air raids. They are however listed on The Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour 1939-1945.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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