London.
The Jews of the British Empire, being 425,000 in number during the World War, contributed not less than 50,000 men to the army forces, according to figures compiled from official records and made public here now.
The figures were compiled in connection with a campaign started by A. K. Chesterton in Mosely’s organ of the Blackshirts, in which he implied that the Jews’ sacrifice during the war of some 2,400 lives was relatively small compared to other sections of the British population. The facts and figures taken from official war records give, however, quite a different picture than the one described by Mr. Chesterton. They disclose Jews have actively participated in the British army on every front including German West Africa, the Near East, the Navy and the Air Force.
The known casualties were as follows (every one accounted for): Officers fallen in action or died on active service, 334; N.C.O.s and men, 2,091, wounded 6,500, total 8,925.
Details which can be given of the battalions etc., to which these men belonged, will prove that the large majority of Jews on active service were in the fighting units, and not in the administrative or departmental corps.
During the months of August, September and October, 1914, when the “Old Contemptibles” stemmed the onrush of the enemy, Jews in the regular army laid down their lives.
On August 23 and 24, at the Battle of Mons, which began the war Jews in the 4th Middlesex, 1st Northumberland Fusiliers, 1st Norfolks, and 1st K.O.R. Lancasters, fell in action. It is certain that the full roll of Jewish casualties in all parts of the world will never be known, and the figures here quoted are absolute minimum proved figures.
The decorations and honors awarded for services rendered are as follows: V. C. 5, Order of St. Michael and St. George 15, D.S.O. 49, M.C. 263, D.F.C. 11, O.B.E. 144, D.C.M. 85, M.M. 329, M.S.M. 66, mentioned in dispatches 336, foreign honors 138, mentioned in home dispatches 155, total 1,596.
The number of V. C.s compare favorably with the total of 578 awarded among the six million men on active service.
On the sea, Jewish sailors took part in every action of importance and served in every kind of vessel afloat and under the sea.
In the famous naval operations for the blocking of Zeebrugge and Ostend, several Jewish officers and men took part, and Lieut.-Commander R. Saunders was one of the seven officers who obtained the D.S.O. in recognition of gallantry on that occasion. In the fighting round the British Isles, in the Heligoland Blight, the Battle of Jutland, where a Jewish warrant officer was the yeoman of the signals on board the Admiral’s flagship, in the Battle of Coronel, the Battle of Falkland Islands and in the Adriatic Sea, Jews are known to have had a share. On board the Australian Cruiser, H. M. S. Sydney, when it destroyed the German raider, the “Emden” off the Cocos Islands, Jewish sailors were there.
On the land there was not a war area where they did not fight beside their comrades.
When General Botha conquered German West Africa, in his army there was a considerable number of Jews from Cape Colony, Natal, Rhodesia, and the Transvaal. A still larger number of Jews followed him to East Africa, whilst in the South African Brigade on the Western front many officers and men were included.
Canadian Jews played their part with the Expeditionary Forces, whilst New Zealand Jews were at the capture of Samoa and also on the Western front.
The splendid record of the enlistment of Australian Jews, where, like in South Africa, compulsory service was never introduced, will prove their patriotism. Records in Australia show that the percentage of enlisting Jews “pro rata” was higher than any other section, and also the percentage of killed was likewise higher.
Every “Aussie” knew and loved their gallant General Officer Commander, Sir John Monash, G.C.M. G., K.C.B. (a Jew).
The air fighting which led to the wonderful development of the Royal Flying Corps, afterwards called the Royal Air Force, attracted a large number of Jewish young men, many of whom gained distinction as aviators.
In the first list published of the awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the names of Capt. D. C. Baur and Lieut. G. F. Hyams were included. Another gallant Jew is Major J. Kemper, M.B.E., who had risen from the ranks, and was given charge of a large aeroplane depot near one of the bases. In the first raid made on a German aerodrome, Major R. L. Marix took part.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
