David Michel Speyer. Collection

David Michel Speyer, born on the 25th of December, 1889, in Leiden, began his life's journey as a traveling salesman. In 1909, he relocated from Amsterdam to Belgium. On the 24th of January, 1920, David Michel married Marie Rosalie Kerremans, born in Tisselt on the 9th of November, 1899. The same year, on the 20th of May, 1920, they welcomed their first daughter, Simonne Anna Eugènie Speyer. Another addition to the family came on the 11th of April, 1922, with the birth of their second daughter, Eugenie Clémentine Speyer. Both daughters were raised in the Catholic faith, following the beliefs of their mother. Unfortunately, the union faced challenges, and in 1934, David Michel and Marie Rosalie Kerremans separated. At the time of his last known residence, David Michel lived in Brussels on rue Vandermeersch. The course of his life took a tragic turn on the 22nd of June, 1943, when he was arrested and taken to the Dossinkazerne. Subsequently, on the 31st of July, 1943, he became a part of Transport XXI, marking the beginning of his deportation journey. The transport arrived in Auschwitz on the 2nd of August, 1943, sealing the fate of David Michel Speyer in the devastating events of the Holocaust.

In 2023, Rob Bouman kindly permitted Kazerne Dossin to digitise 2 photographs.

Rob Bouman