Category: British Jewish Soldiers

Soldiers of The Great War: Jewish Military Service in WW I, as Reported in The Jewish Chronicle – “The Chief Rabbi of France and The Troops at The Front”, October 2, 1914

Throughout the war, both The Jewish Chronicle and l’Univers Israélite, carried articles about religious services conducted by and held for Jewish soldiers, often describing such services in great detail, and in a larger sense, presenting many essays and thought pieces – from highly varied viewpoints, let alone a diversity of writers – about religion in the context of war. 

l’Univers Israélite, in particular, published several lengthy, detailed, and moving items about Jewish religious services – held in or near front-line positions – within 1915.  (I hope to post those items in the future…)

The item below covers a request presented to M. Alfred Levy, Chief Rabbi of France, to arrange religious services for British Jewish soldiers, with and among French Jewish troops.

Rabbi Levy’s reply states, “We have had the misfortune to lose one of them, the Chief Rabbi of Lyons, who fell on the field of battle, shot by an enemy’s bullet.”  Rabbi Levy is almost certainly referring to Aumonier Militaire Abraham Bloch, born in Paris in 1859, who was killed while serving with the “14eme Section d’Infirmieres Militaires; Groupe de Brancardiers Divisionnaire” on August 29, 1914, at Anozel, in the Vosges area. 

Rabbi Bloch posthumously received the Medaille militaire.  The story of his death (as opposed to how he actually died) – as reported and portrayed by the press – had great symbolic impact, and would be covered in l’Univers Israélite on November 27, 1914, and May 21, 1915. 

Information is readily available concerning Rabbi Bloch.  I particularly refer readers to the book Les Juifs de France et la Grande Guerre, by Philippe-E. Landau (CNRS Editions, Paris, 1999), which devotes a full chapter to this story. 

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THE CHIEF RABBI OF FRANCE AND THE TROOPS AT THE FRONT

The Jewish Chronicle
October 2, 1914

The Chaplain recently wrote to the Chief Rabbi of France, M. Alfred Levy, asking him to endeavour to arrange for the English Jewish soldiers to join the French troops at any religious services during the campaign.  He has now received the following reply –

M. Place St. Georges, Paris
18th September, 1914.

DEAR COLLEAGUE – In reply to your letter, I beg to inform you that nearly all the members of the French Rabbinate are serving their country, either as chaplains, or as soldiers.  We have had the misfortune to lose one of them, the Chief Rabbi of Lyons, who fell on the field of battle, shot by an enemy’s bullet.

I gave instructions to all to hold divine service in the field if they can collect a [minyan].  I am unable to see the Minister of War at present, as he is absent from Paris, but I am sure that our chaplains will know how to fulfill their duty, and that the generals to whom they apply will grant the necessary permission, so far as the exigencies of the military service will permit.

With best wishes for _____

Yours very sincerely,

Rev. Michael Adler, B.A., London                                     A. LEVY, Chief Rabbi

Soldiers of The Great War: Jewish Military Service in WW I, as Reported in The Jewish Chronicle – “Proud of Being a Soldier” [Schoenthal Brothers], October 2, 1914

“You always said it was honourable, and it is at such a time at this that everyone respects a soldier or sailor.”

This article from The Jewish Chronicle presenting excerpts from the brothers Schoenthal to their parents, reveals their anticipation and optimism about military service.

Happily, the absence of their names from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database indicates that both survived the war.

Given the text of Cosman’s letter, it seems evident that his parents shared their son’s letter with the Chronicle.

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PROUD OF BEING A SOLDIER

The Jewish Chronicle
October 2, 1914

Corporal H. Schoenthal, of the 1st Essex Regiment, writing from Vacoas, Mauritius, on August 6th, states that it was only on the preceding day that the Regiment knew that England was very near to war with Germany: “and about half-an-hour ago,” the letter proceeds, “it came through to us officially.  You cannot picture the excitement we are going through.  Our Regiment is in Port Louis Fort, but we have no idea whether we stay here or go to another country.”

“Be of good cheer, the same as I am.”  – In a postscript the Corporal writes that he is looking forward to another medal.

A brother of the Corporal – Private Cosman Schoenthal – writing from camp on August 30th, states that he is under orders to move, but he neither knows where or when he is to go.

“I expect,” he goes on, “to be made either a lance-corporal, or full corporal, as soon as the list arrives from England.  Of course, you must still address me as Private until you hear definitely.”

“Anyhow, our Sergt.-Major told me that in all intents and purposes I am a corporal now, as, when I am made, it will be dated back.  So, with a little luck, I will beat Harry’s rank soon, and he the proud possessor of a medal, too.  A spirit of enthusiasm prevails everywhere, and I am proud to say now that I am a soldier.  You always said it was honourable, and it is at such a time at this that everyone respects a soldier or sailor.  Anyhow, the honour will rebound on to your shoulders for having two sons, who are both proud to be in the Army.”

In a postscript, the writer, says ironically, “It’s a rotten Navy that we have, isn’t it?  A little bit too good for the one that was made in Germany, though – (I hope this will pass the Censor.)”

(Photographs of the brothers will appear in the next Wednesday’s issue of the Jewish World.)

Soldiers of The Great War: Jewish Military Service in WW I, as Reported in The Jewish Chronicle – “An American Souvenir Hunter”, September 25, 1914

The following article from The Jewish Chronicle is of a different sort: An very brief account about conditions in Belgium, by a Private Cohen – first name not given – of the Royal Army Medical Corps.  The incidental allusion to “an American” is notable. 

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AN AMERICAN SOUVENIR HUNTER

The Jewish Chronicle

September 25, 1914

Another soldier in the R.A.M.C. – also named Cohen – who has been captured and has escaped, writing from Shorncliffe Military Hospital, says, “I am footsore with walking in a pair of boots three sizes too big for me but I am in great hopes of going to the front again shortly.  I was in two battles, and the bullets were all round us, as we have been in the firing-line all the time.  I have buried a lot of Englishmen and one German.  Enclosed please find two German souvenirs I took off a dead German’s cap.  I was offered (pound) 1 for them by an American.”

Soldiers of The Great War: Jewish Military Service in WW I, as Reported in The Jewish Chronicle – “Story of an escape”, September 25, 1914 (Private Victor Cohen)

Here is another article about a “Private Cohen” of the Royal Army Medical Corps that also appeared in the 25 September 1914 issue of the Chronicle.  This time, however, said Private Cohen has a first name:  Victor.

It would seem likely that “this” Private Cohen is the very same soldier referred to in the prior article, given that the individual in this account is also reported to have escaped from German captivity.  More than a mere coincidence in reporting, I would suggest.

A review of records in the database of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission fortunately yields no entries for this man, so presumably, he survived the war.

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STORY OF AN ESCAPE

The Jewish Chronicle

September 25, 1914

Private Victor Cohen, of the R.A.M.C., who had been taken prisoner by the Germans and escaped, has written to his parents an account of his experiences.  It was during the retreat from a small village named Augre that Private Cohen was captured.  “I must say,” writes Private Cohen, who is now at Aldershot, “the Germans did not ill-treat us, but gave us food and wine for our wounded.”  He goes on to say, however, that, “they took everything of any value from the villages and that wounded brought in from a house three miles away were found to be without clothes.  They said the Germans had taken all their clothes away and left them out on the field.”  “Six of us,” Private Cohen continues, “meant to escape, and we made up our mind to go separately.  I had made all my plans, but they fell through when I found that the only bridge left up, and which I had to cross, was guarded by Germans.  I then made up my mind to hide in a wood till the Germans retreated, but by the greatest of luck I heard of a Belgian soldier who had escaped from Maubeuge, and was trying to get to Ghent.  When he heard of me, he at once got me a civilian suit, etc., and the two of us started from Douai at night.  We walked from eight o’clock on Monday night till eight the next morning, and passed through the Herman patrols without anybody seeing us.  We arrived in Ghent on Tuesday night, and the English Consul gave me a passport.  …  I interviewed the Consul at Ostend and arrived in England on Wednesday.”  The writer adds that he hopes to leave again shortly.