Passchendaele and the Jews who fell
As Britain marks 100-years since the bloody First World War battle, Anglo Jewry can be 'proud' of its participation in the war effort
Historians this week reflected on the contribution of Jewish soldiers to the First World War effort, as Britain marks the 100-year anniversary of the bloody battle of Passchendaele.
At least 240 British Jewish men are thought to have been killed during the Third Battle of Ypres in Belgium, with combatants at Passchendaele ranging from Privates such as Harry Vigdofsky, to one of the leading Australian Generals, John Monash.
Lasting from 31 July to 10 November, hundreds died on the first day of the battle, including Lionel Ernest Schloss sustaining fatal wounds.
Get The Jewish News Daily Edition by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up
Part of Nottingham’s Jewish community, the Polish-born 2nd Lieutenant in the Machine Gun Corps became a naturalised citizen in 1900.
According to London Jews in the First World War (LJFWW), he had aspirations to follow in father Alexander’s footsteps, AND become a rabbi. But said: “Unfortunately he was killed in Ypres before he could achieve his vocation.”
Whilst Lionel lasted almost the entirety of the battle, thousands were not so lucky.
Lance Corporal John Isaac Cohen of Silver Street north London was killed in action on the first day.
He served in the Wiltshire Regiment 2nd Battalion, was a former member of the teaching staff at London County Council. As one of 54,000 men who have no burial site, Cohen is remembered at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Also caught in the first wave of attacks at Passchendaele on 31 July was Private Harry Vigdofsky, 23, of the South Wales Borderers, 23.
He perished near a monument known as Iron Cross and is also remembered on the Menin Gate.
A century after thousands of British and Commonwealth troops went “over the top”, Princes Charles and William, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prime Minister Theresa May joined the King and Queen of Belgium and some 4,000 descendants of those who fought to mark the anniversary at Tyne Cot on Monday.
Unfortunately, Private Harry Vigdofsky’s parents Rachael and Solomon of 42 Jane Street, Commercial Road, London, never got to visit their son’s grave or see his name on the memorial.
Another to fall on the opening day was Henry George Raphael of the East Lancashire Regiment 7th Battalion. Born in 1894, he was listed as working in the ‘Optical Establishment’ by LJFWW. He too is buried at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, leaving behind his mother and sister, Elizabeth and Kate, who lived in Belsize Park.
During the battle of Passchendaele around half a million men were killed, injured or went missing on both sides, but efforts are underway to digitise their memory.
‘London Jews in the First World War’ is project dedicated to creating a permanent digital archive to preserve the surviving evidence of Jewish experiences for future generations.
Paula Kitching, the project’s historian and manager told Jewish News that the work is vital, because it “shows that events a hundred years ago still impact us on all today. Our research and ongoing engagement with the community is uncovering stories of the significant number of Jewish men who died in First World War battles, fighting for this country and how the war affected British Jewish lives on the Home Front.”
She added: “Anglo Jewry can be proud of its participation in British war effort, reminding both our own community and the wider British community of our contribution and sacrifice.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
- Features
- Passchendaele
- Battle of Passchendaele
- First World War
- WORLD WAR ONE
- News Features
- News
- Harry Vigdofsky
- Third Battle of Ypres
- Belgium
- British Jews
- British Jewish soldiers
- Machine Gun Corps
- London Jews in the First World War (LJFWW)
- London Jews in the First World War
- LJFWW
- John Isaac Cohen
- Wiltshire Regiment
- Harry Vigdofsk
- Menin Gate
- Prince Charles
- Prince William
- Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
- King and Queen of Belgium
- Paula Kitching
- Royal Family
- Theresa May
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)
-
By Laurent Vaughan - Senior Associate (Bishop & Sewell Solicitors)