Category: Royal Navy

The Sailor’s Father: One Day on the Somme: The Fate of Serjeant Reuben Gould (Father of P/O Thomas William Gould, VC, RN ) July 22, 1916

Thus for Tommy Gould’s life before war: but what came before?  This too is a story in its own right, but one that – with the passage of time and absence of records and correspondence – may likely remain only partially known. 

As noted in Tommy Gould’s obituary in the Independent, and in more detail in his biographical profile at RN Subs, his father Reuben was killed in action in 1916, when Tommy was only two years old. 

This singularly significant “clue” – a first name and surname – is all that is needed to return the following record from the CWGC database:

Reuben Gould

Serjeant GOULD, REUBEN
Service Number L/7328

Died 22/07/1916
Aged 35

1st Bn., Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)

Husband of Mrs. C.E. Cheeseman (formerly Gould), of 6, Woolcomber Lane, Dover.

Buried at CATERPILLAR VALLEY CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL
Location: Somme, France – XIV, F, 2

So, it was true:  Tommy Gould’s father lost his life in the Battle of the Somme.  He was among the 141 men of the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment who were killed in action, or died of wounds (among an initial total of 391 killed, wounded, and missing) on July 22, 1916, during a series of assaults on the German trenches at High Wood. 

A verbatim transcript of the War Diary / Intelligence Summary of the R.W.K.R., 1st Battalion for that day – found within UK WW I War Diaries at Ancestry.com – is presented below.  Note that the account concludes with details about casualties among officers, but not – perhaps inevitably, given the staggering number of killed and wounded – among Ordinary Ranks.  Which, would have included Serjeant Gould.

This is the “cover” page of the War Diary….

….and this is the “first” page of eight, covering events of July 22, 1916.

During the day orders were received that the 13th Brigade in conjunction with Brigades on right and left was to attack at night Enemy position.  As a preliminary operation the Battn. and 14th WARWICKS were to attack and capture trench along road at 10 PM.  The main attack was timed to commence at 12:30 AM but was afterwards postponed 1 hour.  The attack by the Brigade on our right was not to commence till 3:30 AM.  The main objective was the Enemy’s trench which runs almost due EAST from the N part of HIGH WOOD.  The Enemy however held an intermediate trench running partly behind and partly along the track running SE from E point of HIGH WOOD.  Our front line along the track running SE from S point of HIGH WOOD.  The Battn. was ordered to attack this intermediate trench, which was not visible from its own trench as it was some distance beyond the crest of a gently rising slope.

The main idea was that the Battn in conjunction with 14th R War Regt should attack the intermediate trench and consolidate it.  When this had been done the 2 / K.O.S. Borderers were to pass over the intermediate trench and attack the main enemy trench in rear.  The 15th R. War. Regt was in reserve.

The frontage allotted to the Battn was from the left of the trench at HIGH WOOD to point where enemy trench touched the road, a distance of approximately 400 yards.  The 14th R. War Regt being on the right on a frontage of about the same breadth.

Orders to the following effect were issued to the Battn.:  The hour fixed for the assault was 10 pm. & at that hour the barrage was to lift.  A & B Coy’s were in the front line and were to attack in two waves.  They were ordered to leave their own trenches before the barrage lifted and to get as close to the enemy trench as possible so that when the barrage lifted they could dash in.  The second waves of these boys were to carry entrenching tools which were to be left as close to the enemy trench as possible before final assault.  C Coy were ordered to occupy our original front line at 10 pm and as soon as enemy trench was captured they were to dig a support trench joining up the advance posts already made in front of our line.  This Coy was also to join up E corner of HIGH WOOD with the captured trench.  O.C. Coy had also to detail a bombing party under an Officer to seize enemy strong point at E corner of HIGH WOOD should such strong point be found to be held by enemy.  The existence of this strong point was known of, but the Division on the left guaranteed to deal with it previous to the assault, and it was afterwards stated that we had 2 Vickers Guns in position at the E edge of HIGH WOOD.  At the last moment, however, doubt arose as to the situation at this strong point, and in consequence of vagueness and uncertainty that existed, this party was detailed as an extra precaution.  D Coy was ordered to occupy our front line trenches as soon as vacated by C Coy but to keep well to the left in order that the 2 / KOSB could use this trench as an assembly trench previous to their attack on main position.  2nd Lt. Dando with bombing party was ordered to accompany the first line on extreme left and investigate a short line of enemy trench which ran at right angles to & on the left of & beyond their front trench.  If opposition was met he was to block this trench and wait till 2 / KOSB passed through, when he was to advance and seize it.  C & D Coys, in spite of above orders, were to be prepared to support A & B Coys should necessity arise and in that case all work allotted to them was to be left.  The position of Battn H.Q. was not to change.  Each man carried two Mills Bombs (to form a reserve in captured trench) and an extra bandolier of ammunition.  Communication to be by visual signaling (if smoke permitted) and by runner.  Covering parties were to be put out directly position was captured.  Wire for consolidating captured trench was to be carried up by D Coy.  The attack was to be pressed home at all costs.

At the same time as this attack other Divisions were attacking on the left and the 95th Bde. Was to attack DELVILLE WOOD, but the latter operation could not be commenced until we had gained our objective.

A & B Coys left their own trenches at 9.52 pm and advanced without many casualties until arriving near the road on the crest of the hill, when they were met with extremely heavy rifle & M. Gun fire from direction of E corner of HIGH WOOD and enemy trenches N of Wood, but also suffered casualties by shells from our own Artillery falling short.  Only two parties of these boys reached the enemy trenches.  On the right about 30 men of A Coy reached enemy trench and entered it, but were attacked by the enemy with bombs, as the 14th R. WAR. on their right had failed to reach the trench, and as their own supply of bombs soon ran short they could not maintain their position.  All the officers of this Coy. had become casualties.  On the left Lt. J.J. SCOTT with 21 men of his Platoon entered the enemy trench and killed some Germans.  Lt. SCOTT put out patrols in front, generally consolidated the position for a length of about 40 yds., and held on to it for about 4 hours.  The enemy attempted a bombing attack on the left but this was frustrated by Pte. BUTLIN, who, stepping over the enemy bombs before they exploded, threw bombs of his own and drove the enemy back.  These were the only two parties to reach enemy’s trench.  C & D Coys both went up to reinforce, and later on a part of 2 / KOSB & 2 Coys of 15th R. WAR.R. were sent forward but the latter lost direction.  Some reached enemy line but eventually all troops were withdrawn to our original front line.  The bombing party of C. Coy, sent against the strong point in HIGH WOOD, found the corner of wood already in occupation by the Brigade on left, but it is believed that it was retaken by enemy.  Lt. PEACHEY in command of party was himself wounded.  It is however probably that the strong point itself was never reached and was further back from the corner than was supposed.  In any case, the majority of the casualties in the Battn. were caused by M. Gun fire from here.  Lt. DANDO with his party did not find the isolated trench on the left flank and returned to H.Q. to report the situation.  He afterwards went forward again and brought back a further report.  Lt. HEALEY, the Adjutant, was sent forward to reorganize parties who were in front of our trenches and bring them back to our original front line.  He was, however, wounded when near the German trenches, and could not be brought in.  Lt. CALE, Lewis Gun Officer, also reached the German trenches and assisted in reorganising the line.

Eventually some 250 men were collected by Capt. WRIGHT in our original front line.

On our right, 14th R. WAR. R. were met by a sustained fire of bombs & rifle & M.Gun fire, and did not reach the enemy’s trench.

The Casualties amounted to

Officers
Killed – Missing – Wounded:14 (See below)

O.R. [Other ranks]
Killed – Missing – Wounded377

The individual casualties among officers were as follows: –

A Coy
Capt. COBB, W.R. was wounded very early in the fight
2 Lt. FLEMING, J.A. was wounded & missing [CWGC KIA “John Allister”]
2 Lt. CORNFORD, W.D. was missing [CWGC KIA “William Day”]
2 Lt. LEWINSTEIN, H. was killed by a bomb [CWGC “Harry”]

B Coy
Capt. BENNETT, C.T. was wounded & missing [CWGC KIA “Charles Tudor”]
Capt. LEATHERDALE, D.R. was missing
2 Lt. FOX, C.J. was killed

C Coy
Capt. OGLE, W.M. was wounded
Lt. BULLEN, G. was wounded
2 Lt. PEACHEY, G.F. was wounded
2 Lt. CROSS, P.F. was wounded & missing [CWGC KIA “Philip Frank”]

D Coy
Lt. BARTLETT, L.A. was missing [CWGC KIA “Lionel”]
2 Lt. GILLETT, F. was killed

H. Qrs.
Lt. HEALEY, R.E.H. was wounded & missing [CWGC KIA “Richard Elkanah Hownam”]

Many acts of gallantry were performed, the following being the most conspicuous: –

No. 7725 Corporal GEORGE HATCH.

The Battn. when advancing to the assault of the German trenches, came under very heavy machine gun and shell fire and a large number of men were wounded.  As the intensity of the fire did not diminish it was impossible for the stretcher bearers to go out and collect wounded.  However Cpl. HATCH, who was in charge of the stretcher bearers, went out by himself, walked about in the open and carried wounded to cover in shell holes.  This was done some 200 yards in front of our own lines and within very close range of the enemy machine guns.  He afterwards carried back many of the men to our own line.  He continued his work with the utmost coolness and disregard for personal safety for about 7 hours and until well after daylight when eventually he was himself wounded.  He was under very heavy fire the whole time.  He was seen to carry back at least 50 cases, and there is no doubt that he saved the lives of a large number of men. 

______________________________

A search of Google Maps for the above-listed “6 Woolcomber Lane, Dover” yielded the following three maps, showing at successively larger scales southeastern England, then Dover, and finally Woolcomber Street (formerly Lane?) in Dover.  Notably, while the map shows the nominal and presumably original location of the street, a 2018 aerial view of the same location reveals that none of the dwellings that presumably once existed there remain standing, a parking lot having taken their place.

An effort to find more information about Serjeant Gould’s family revealed the record below, from the 1911 Census of England and Wales.  (Thanks, Ancestry.com!)  Intriguingly, though there is no entry for Reuben Gould, it appears that Reuben’s wife – Tommy Gould’s mother? – appears as “Christian Elmer [Almer?] Gould, age 26.  Christian is the daughter of Maria Mary Anna Irons (58 years old), and the mother of Sidney Robert Gould (age 1/ ½ years; Tommy’s older brother?) and sister of Morris William Irons, age 16 ½.

Being that Tommy Gould was born in 1914, his name by definition would not appear in this Census. 

Notably, the document was completed by Maria Irons, who lists, below her signature, the address as 5 (not 6) Woolcomber Lane. 

Reuben’s British Army WW I Medal Roll Index Card is presented below…

…and here is the Graves Registration Report for Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, with Reuben’s name appearing second from top.  Notable is his designation as a Private (not a Serjeant, as listed in the CWGC record and Medal Roll Index Card), and the fact that his tombstone bears a Crucifix – not a Magen David – which presumably would indicate the religious affiliation he designated upon entering the Army.

If so – it may be so; it certainly seems so – this is reflective of the plethora of anecdotes, news items, and lengthy opinion pieces appearing in The Jewish Chronicle throughout the First World War – written by “ordinary ranks” as well as officers, rabbis, community leaders, intellectuals, and other public figures – pertaining to the decision by some Jewish servicemen to identify their religious affiliation as other than such upon entering the military.  This topic was also addressed in the American Jewish Press during America’s involvement in the war.

Every man is an individual, subject to and both the captain and captive of his own strengths and weaknesses; his own fears and hopes; his own life experiences and observations.  Such decisions would have been motivated by the same set of conundrums that have confronted the Jewish people ever since the beginning of Jewish emancipation only a few centuries ago: The desire to avoid antisemitism; the natural, universal, perennial human desire to want to smoothly belong to a “group” – any group – be that group military, civilian, or familial – without “rocking the boat”; pure self-interest; and even more than realized, a degree of acculturation and assimilation that would gradually and bear-inevitably have moved the centrality of Jewish identification – in time irrelevant or muted – to the quiet periphery of one’s life and priorities.

Far, far more could be said about this topic.  Vastly amounts have already been written.  Even in and after 2018, more will follow.  But two excellent monographs on the subject – enlightening and disturbing; illuminating and disillusioning; revelatory and astute – are the late Barry Rubin’s Assimilation and Its Discontents (Times Books, 1995) and Radical Assimilation in English-Jewish History 1656-1945, by Todd M. Endelman (Indiana University Press, 1990). 

In any event, though Serjeant Gould’s name did not appear in The Jewish Chronicle, or Reverend Michael Adler’s 1922 British Jewry Book of Honour, the names of two other serviceman – 2 Lt. Harry Lewinstein – (listed above) and Pvt. Hyman Rosenthall – did. 

In its issue of 11 August 1916, as it did throughout the war, the Chronicle published the most recently available list of the names of Jewish soldiers reported killed, missing, wounded, and injured, or who died in service.  Typical of WW I casualty lists presented in that newspaper, soldiers’ names are given in “descending” order by rank, with officers appearing first. 

Importantly – exasperatingly, in terms of genealogical research! – throughout the war, the Chronicle rarely published a soldier’s full first (and middle, if any) name, instead using only his initials.  I don’t know if this reflected the editorial policy of the Chronicle itself, or, was simply the format of Casualty Lists released by the War Office.  In any event, the ambiguity inherent to some names can make the identification of specific, identically-named individuals more than challenging.  

So, here is the Chronicle’s casualty list for August 11, showing (for the purposes of this post) only soldiers killed in action.   

Genealogical information covering Jewish soldiers killed in action on July 22, 1916 – as well as two Jewish soldiers wounded on that date, Sapper Myer Joseph Isaacs and Gunner Cyril N. Mandelson, both Australians – follows below….

Known Jewish Military Casualties – July 22, 1916

Killed

– .ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. –

Ben Kimoun, Maurice Mouchi, Soldat de 2eme Classe, Armée de Terre, Zouaves, 3eme Regiment de Zouaves
Number 11452, Class 1913, Matricule 1881, Recrutement Oran
France (Algérie)
Born in Oran, Algeria, 10/24/93
Killed by the enemy [Tué a l’ennemi]; France, Meuse, Bras
Place of burial unknown
l’Univers Israélite  9/28/17
Les Israelites dans l’Armée Francaise – 12
Le Livre d’Or du Judaisme Algérien (1914-1918) – 204

Braver, Max, Soldat de 2eme Classe, Armée de Terre, Infanterie, 352eme Regiment d’Infanterie
Number 11135, Class 1915, Matricule 59, Recrutement 3eme Bureau, Seine
France (Roumanie)
Born in Craiova, Roumania, 12/2/77
Killed by the enemy [Tué a l’ennemi]; France, Somme, Assevillers
Necropole Nationale “Lihons”, Lihons, Somme, France – Tombe Individuelle, No. 1685
Les Israelites dans l’Armée Francaise – Not listed

Fraenkel, Bruno, Soldat, Deutsches Heer, 49 Infanterie Regiment, 2nd Bataillon, 6 Kompagnie
Born May 5, 1884, Berlin, Germany
Lived in Eberswalde
(Missing)
Place of burial unknown
Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch – 138

Gros, Arnold, Soldat de 2eme Classe, Armée de Terre, Artillerie, 13eme Regiment d’Artillerie de Campagne
Number 13716, Class 1917, Matricule 833, Recrutement 3eme Bureau, Seine
France
Born at 9eme Arrondissement, Paris, 9/19/97
Killed by the enemy [Tué a l’ennemi]; France, Somme, Mametz
Necropole Nationale “La Cote 80”, Etinehem, Somme, France – Tombe Individuelle, No. 750
Les Israelites dans l’Armée Francaise – 38

Jonas, Emil, Soldat, Deutsches Heer, 252 Pioner Kompagnie
Born Dec. 12, 1877, Hamburg, Germany
Lived in Altona
(Missing)
Place of burial unknown
Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch – 372

Kahn, Nathan, Soldat, Deutsches Heer, 1 Lazarett Trupp, Freiwilliger Krankenpflege
Born Jan. 18, 1884, Munchen, Germany
Lived in Altenstadt
Place of burial unknown
Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch – 292

Kronheim, Georg, Soldat, Deutsches Heer, 113 Infanterie Regiment, 2 Bataillon, 5 Kompagnie
Mrs. Rosa (Brodek) Kronheim (wife); 1 child, Winsstrasze 4, Berlin, Germany
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Maria Theresa (Lewinberg) Kronheim (parents), Berlin, Germany
Born May 31, 1879, Berlin, Germany
Lived in Berlin
Judischen Friedhof zu Weissensee, Berlzu, Germany
Hank, Sabine, and Simon, Hermann, Bis der Krieg uns lehrt, was der Friede bedeute [Until the War Teaches Us What Peace Means] Hentrich & Hentrich, Teetz, Germany, 2004, 79
Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch – 147

Lazarus, Hans Heinz, Soldat, Deutsches Heer, 223 Reserve Infanterie Regiment, 1 Bataillon, 1 Kompagnie
Born April 20, 1894, Munchen, Germany
Lived in Berlin
(Missing)
Place of burial unknown
Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch – 292

Lebenstein, Manfred, Soldat, Deutsches Heer, 3 Garde Grenadier Regiment, 3 Bataillon, 12 Kompagnie
Born August 3, 1886, Munchen, Germany
Lived in Charlottenburg
Kriegsgräberstätte in St.Quentin (Frankreich), Block 3, Grab 68
Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch – 292

Levi, Julius, Soldat, Deutsches Heer, 25 Reserve Infanterie Regiment, 2 Bataillon, 7 Kompagnie
Born May 21, 1878, Schluchtern, Germany
Lived in Kassel
Place of burial unknown
Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch – 330

Lewinstein, Harry, 2 Lt., British Army, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), 1st Battalion
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and Fanny Lewinstein (parents), 22 Great Windmill St., London, W, England
Born London, England, 1889
KIA July 22, 1916
Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France – XXX,B,7
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 72

The 2017 Google Maps image below shows the contemporary appearance of the wartime home of the Lewinstein family: 22 Great Windmill Street, London, W., now the location of Soho Radio.   

Rosenthall, Hyman, Pvt., 28134, British Army, Northumberland Fusiliers, 16th Battalion
Mr. Isaac Rosenthall (father), 44 Grafton St., Leeds, England
(also) 42 Whitlock St., Leeds, England
Born 1893
KIA July 22, 1916
Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authville Wood, Somme, France – III,E,1
British Jewry Book of Honour – 115

This image of Hyman Rosenthall appeared in The Jewish World (The Jewish Chronicle’s sister publication) on May 2, 1917.  The image was recorded from 35mm microfilm – at the Dorot Jewish Division of the New York Public Library – using a digital SLR.  (I don’t think The Jewish World has yet been digitized.)

These two soldiers were wounded on July 22, 1916, but survived.  Biographical information about them was found by reviewing their digitized Attestation Papers, via the website of the National Archives of Australia.   

Isaacs, Myer Joseph, Sapper, 1288, Australian Imperial Forces, 3rd Tunneling Company
Wounded in France
Mrs. Ruby Isaacs (wife), Mayville, Tupper St., Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Born Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1885
WIA July 22, 1916
British Jewry Book of Honour – 558
Attestation Papers list religion as “Jewish”; Civilian trade: Fitter

Mandelson, Cyril Nathaniel, Gunner, 3972, Australian Imperial Forces, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Trench Mortar Battery
Wounded at Pas de Calais, France
Mr. Joseph Mandelson (father), 101 Victoria St., Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Born Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1887
WIA July 22, 2916
British Jewry Book of Honour – 561
Attestation Papers list religion as “Jewish”; Civilian trade: Agent; Married: Ruby Jane Hannah Mandelson

Genealogical information about the ten other soldiers whose names appear in the Chronicle’s casualty list – aside from 2 Lt. Levinstein and Pvt. Rosenthall – follows:

Casualty List – The Jewish Chronicle – August 11, 1916

– .ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. –

Baum, Harry Hyman, L/Cpl., 22701, British Army, Border Regiment, 1st Battalion
Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Leah Baum (parents), Stepney, London, England
(also) 7 Dempsey St., London, E, England
Born 1894
KIA July 3, 1916
Louvencourt Military Cemetery, Somme, France – Plot I, Row D, Grave 2
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 79

Cohen, John, Rifleman, 5467, British Army, Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion
86 Boundary St., Shoreditch, London, E, England
KIA July 1, 1916
Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France – Pier and Face 16B and 16C
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 84

Davis, J., Rifleman, R/15167, British Army, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 13th Battalion
42 Vallance Road, London, E, England
KIA July 10, 1916
Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Somme, France – VII,Q,2
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 87

Gluckman, Samuel, Pvt., 6171, South African Infantry, 3rd Regiment
Mr. and Mrs. J. and J. Gluckman (parents), 61 Fortescue Road, Yeoville, Johannesburg, South Africa
(also) P.O. Box 66, Vereenigang, South Africa
Born 1900
KIA July 9, 1916
Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France – Pier and Face 4C
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 91

Jacobs, Joel, 2 Lt., British Army, Yorkshire Regiment, 5th Battalion
Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Pearl Jacobs (parents), Harringay, 52 Walter Road, Swansea, England
Born 1895
KIA July 20, 1916
La Laiterie Military Cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium – VII,D,13
On Matzeva: “I WAS GUIDED BY THY COUNSEL AND AFTERWARD RECEIVED WITH THY GLORY”
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16, 7/28/16 (obituary)
British Jewry Book of Honour – 71

This picture of Lt. Joel Jacobs appeared in The Jewish World on August 23, 1916.  Identical to that of Pvt. Rosenthall, the image was copied from microfilm via a digital SLR.  Throughout the First World War, The Jewish World published several hundred portraits of Jewish servicemen of England and the Commonwealth countries, as well as more candid images of life in the military.  The quality of these images varies enormously.

Levy, Lewis, Pvt., 18418, British Army, Hampshire Regiment, 1st Battalion
Mrs. Sarah Levy (wife); Henry and Evie (children), 104 Eric St., Mile End Road, London, England
(also) 132 Bridge St., London, E, England
Mrs A. Levy, Mat, John, Mrs. Moss Harris, Mrs. Mark Harris, Mrs. L. Zimmerman, Mrs. R. Simmons, Morris, Kate, and Beck (brothers and sisters)
Born 1893
KIA July 1, 1916
Bertrancourt Military Cemetery, Somme, France – Plot I, Row G, Grave 13
On Matzeva: “NOBLY HE ANSWERED HIS DUTY’S CALL”
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16, 7/14/16 (obituary)
British Jewry Book of Honour – 104

Lewis, J., Pvt., 16891, British Army, Somerset Light Infantry, 8th Battalion
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis and Leah Lewis (parents), 11 Sandfield Road, Aberavon, Port Talbot, West Glamorgan, Wales
Born 1892
KIA June 29, 1916
Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France – I,A,81
On Matzeva: “IN LOVING REMEMBRANCE FROM MOTHER, SISTER, BROTHER R.I.P.”
The Jewish Chronicle 7/21/16, 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 105

Rubin, Jack, Pvt., 4583, South African Infantry, 9th Regiment
Mr. and Mrs. Morris and Sarah Rubin (parents), Cape Town, South Africa
Born 1894
KIA July 16, 1916
Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania – 2,A,14
On Matzeva: “MAY HIS DEAR SOUL REST IN PEACE”
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 115

Shilling, Harry, Pvt., 2267, British Army, London Regiment, 7th Battalion
Mrs. Eva Shilling (wife), 34 Peter St., Hightown, Manchester, England
(also) 16 Mount St., London, E2, England
Born 1881
KIA May 24, 1916
Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, France – I,C,24
On Matzeva: “IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND FROM HIS LOVING WIFE AND CHILDREN”
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/16
British Jewry Book of Honour – 116
British Jewry Book of Honour gives surname as “Schilling”, while CWGC and LJC Casualty List give surname as “Shilling”

References

Thomas W. Gould

Biography (Military Art)

Biography (Royal Navy Subs)

Biography (Kent History Forum)

Obituary (Independent)

Place of Commemoration / Burial (FindAGrave)

Miscellaneous

Victoria Cross (Wikipedia)

Jewish Victoria Cross Recipients (London Jews in the First World War)

VC * GC Association (VCGCA)

Books

Adler, Michael, British Jewry Book of Honour, Caxton Publishing Company, London, England, 1922

Hank, Sabine, and Simon, Hermann, Bis der Krieg uns lehrt, was der Friede bedeute (Until the War Teaches Us What Peace Means) Hentrich & Hentrich, Teetz, Germany, 2004

Die Jüdischen Gefallenen Des Deutschen Heeres, Deutschen Marine Und Der Deutschen Schutztruppen 1914-1918 – Ein Gedenkbuch, Reichsbund Jüdischer Frontsoldaten, Forward by Dr. Leo Löwenstein, Berlin, Germany, 1932

Les Israelites dans l’Armée Française (Israelites [Jews] in the French Army), Angers, 1921 – Avant-Propos de la Deuxième Épreuve [Forward to the Second Edition], Albert Manuel, Paris, Juillet, 1921 – (Réédité par le Cercle de Généalogie juive [Reissued by the Circle for Jewish Genealogy], Paris, 2000)

Le Livre d’Or du Judaisme Algérien (The Gold Book of Algerian Jewry) (1914-1918) (Réédité par le Cercle de Généalogie juive, Paris, 2000) [Avec la collaboration de Georges Teboul et de Jean-Pierre Bernard]

 

 

After the Victoria Cross: Petty Officer William Thomas Gould, VC, in Parade Magazine – March, 1943

A near-universal and perhaps natural aspect of man’s affairs has been the acknowledgement and recognition of those who embody and exemplify “courage”.  Awards granted for this quality have long existed, and, though highly varied in terms of appearance and the criteria for their bestowal, symbolize and represent – whether by name alone, or through recognition in popular culture – a country’s identity and perhaps its very ethos.  This is particularly so for military awards, which by definition connote recognition of risk, danger, and the potential for an often irrevocable level sacrifice. 

One such award is the United Kingdom’s Victoria Cross, the “highest military decoration awarded for valour ‘in the face of the enemy’ to members of the armed forces.”  Instituted in January of 1856, by February, 2015, 1,355 individual had received VCs

During the Second World War, the sole Jewish serviceman to have received this award was Petty Officer Thomas William Gould, Royal Navy, Coxswain of the submarine HMS Thrasher.  (During the First World War, five Jews – Capt. Robert Gee, 2 Lt. Leonard Keyzor, Lt. Frank Alexander de Pass (KIA 11/25/14), Cpl. Issy Smith, and Pvt. Jack White – were granted the VC.)

P/O Gould and fellow crewman Lieutenant Peter S.W. Roberts received the VC for their action during a circumstance that – while not necessarily involving immediate and active combat with enemy forces – nevertheless entailed the solid possibility of death, eventuating in the survival of their vessel and fellow crewmen, let alone themselves:  They removed two unexploded aerial bombs that had become lodged within their submarine, the removal of one of which necessitated a tortuous and lengthy extraction – in darkness – from within the very narrow confines of the space between the Thrasher’s outer casing and pressure hull. 

Given the abundance and ready availability of information about Gould and Roberts’ action, rather than fully recapitulate the story, a well-written account of events aboard the Thrasher in mid-February 1942, from Cranston Military Prints, is presented below:

Thomas William Gould, submariner: born Dover, Kent 28 December 1914; VC 1942; married 1941 Phyllis Eldridge (died 1985; one son); died Peterborough, Cambridgeshire 6 December 2001. 

For the longest 40 minutes of his life, Petty Officer Tommy Gould lay on his back clutching an unexploded bomb, while being pulled by his shoulders through the casing of the submarine Thrasher.  He was aware throughout this nerve-racking task not only of strange noises emanating from the bomb, but that in the event of an enemy attack the submarine would have to crash-dive and both men would be drowned.  For this remarkable feat of courage, along with Lieutenant Peter Roberts, Gould was awarded a Victoria Cross: the only one to be awarded to a Jewish serviceman in the Second World War. 

On 16th February 1942, under the command of Lt H.S. Mackenzie, Thrasher sank a supply ship off the north coast of Crete but was immediately attacked by enemy aircraft and heavily depth-charged by the escorting anti-submarine vessels for three and a half hours.  Through skillful work by its captain, Thrasher managed to survive the attack but while it was on the surface that night recharging its batteries, an unusual banging noise was heard.  This proved to be two bombs, each about three feet long, six inches in diameter and weighing 100 lb, that were lying on the submarine’s casing just in front of the four-inch gun mounting.  Roberts and Gould volunteered to remove the bombs.  Gould, as Coxswain, was in charge of everything involved with the casing which enclosed a tangle of pipes, wires and other gear.  When they reached the first bomb they wrapped it in an old potato sack and tied it with rope.  They cautiously manhandled it forward to the bows where they dropped it overboard.  As they did so, Thrasher went full astern to get clear.  The second bomb proved to be far more difficult.  After an examination of the casing the two men found a jagged hole in the metal; inside was the bomb, resting on top of the pressure hull.  There was no practical way to recover the bomb through the hole it had made.  The only way was through a hinged metal grating trap-door. 

Gould was to recall: To get to the bomb we had to wiggle forward through the outer casing.  In that confined space there were angle irons to hold the superstructure up, battery ventilators and drop bollards as well.  When we got through, I saw that it was another heavy bomb, about 100 lb.  Then began a nightmarish journey back through the casing, which at points gave only two feet clearance from the hull: I picked up the bomb and passed it through to Roberts.  I then laid on my back with the bomb on my stomach, and held on to it while he laid on his stomach with his head to my head pulling me by my shoulders.  It was pitch dark and the bomb was making this ticking noise while the submarine was being buffeted by the waves.  Also at the back of their minds was the thought that if the submarine was attacked, the captain would have no option but to dive, the unpressurised casing would fill up with water and the two men would drown.  After a grueling 40 minutes they got to the grating.  The bomb was then passed up to a sub-lieutenant who was waiting on the forecasing.  The bomb was wrapped in sacking and gingerly lowered over the side by ropes.  When we knew it was on the surface of the water we let it go, heaving lines as well.  Then we ducked and waited for the explosion, but nothing happened – it obviously could not have been primed. 

The Thrasher’s combat history (derived from documents at the National Archives, Kew) can be found at UBoatNet, from which details of the events of 16-17 February 1942 are presented below: 

16 Feb 1942

HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) makes a torpedo attack on the German merchant Arkadia (1756 GRT, built 1927) off Suda Bay, Crete, Greece.  All torpedoes fired however missed their target.

(All times are zone -2)
0413 hours – Sighted three darkened ships bearing 255°, distance 5 nautical miles.  Altered course towards.  Thrasher is however unable to get into an attack position
0520 hours – Proceeded towards Suda Bay
0730 hours – Dived in position 060°, Cape Drepano distance 11,5 nautical miles
0855 hours – A small 1000 ton merchant ship escorted by a minesweeper or motor launch was sighted bearing 200°, distance 5 nautical miles.  Their course was 120 and they had just left Suda Bay.  Closed at speed to within 6000 yards.  Could not get closed and at the range Lt. MacKenzie did not consider it worth firing torpedoes so the attack was abandoned
0945 hours – Sighted one small patrol vessel in the entrance to Suda Bay
1020 hours – Saw one motor launch approaching from Suda Bay.  It passed 2 nautical miles astern and disappeared at about 12 knots in a north-easterly direction
1050 hours – Saw one M.A.S. boat leaving Suda Bay at high speed
1055 hours – The M.A.S. boat stopped about 3000 yards away bearing 240°.  Thrasher went deep and retired to the Eastward
1150 hours – Sighted a large two-masted schooner entering Suda Bay
1155 hours – Sighted one merchant vessel bearing 060°.  Altered course and started an attack. The merchant ship was about 3000 tons and was deeply laden.  Five escorts were seen, one ahead, one on each beam and one on each quarter.  Three of the escorts were transmitting on Asdic.  Also one or two aircraft were circling overhead
1234 hours – Fired the first of a salvo of four torpedoes from 2000 yards.  A few seconds after firing the first torpedo a muffled explosion shook the submarine considerably, probably a bomb dropped by an aircraft.  Less than a minute later machine gun bullets were heard striking the water.  Almost three minutes after firing the first torpedo a loud distant explosion was hear followed ten seconds later by another.  This might have been the torpedoes exploding or depth charges.  Thrasher dived to 270 feet and retired to the Northward
1245 hours – The first of a total of 33 depth charges was dropped.  Most were too close for comfort.  Minor damage was caused
1430 hours – While at periscope depth three A/S vessels were seen to be still hunting.  Aircraft were also seen.  Thrasher went deep again and continued to retire while reloading the torpedo tubes
1545 hours – Came to periscope depth again.  Nothing in sight
1906 hours – Surfaced. (7)

17 Feb 1942

Two bombs were removed from the deck and the casing of HMS Thrasher.  These bombs were dropped by an aircraft during the attack on the merchant yesterday.

(all times are zone -2)
0150 hours – Discovered a large hole in the side of the gun platform and one unexploded bomb of about 100 lbs laying on the fore casing just forward of the gun.  This bomb had only a small portion of its tail attached to it, preventing it from rolling off the casing
0240 hours – Went to full speed astern and lowered into the water to let go the bomb over the bows.  A further examination of the casing revealed another bomb inside the casing lying on the pressure hull just forward of the gun support.  This bomb had to be dragged for 20 feet through the casing before it could be get out and dropped over the side at 0330 hours.  This was accomplished by first lieutenant Lt. P.S.W. Roberts, RN and petty officer T.W. Gould.  They both received the Victoria Cross for this.
0335 hours – Set course towards Cape Matapan
0623 hours – Dived.  Closed to within five nautical miles from Cape Matapan and then set course to the Westward
1926 hours – Surfaced. (7)

______________________________

As for the Thrasher herself?  She was a T (“Triton”) class diesel-electric submarine, the design of which dated from the 1930s.  One of fifty such vessels constructed before and during the Second World War, she was built by Cammell Laird & Co. Limited, of Birkenhead, laid down on November 14, 1939 and launched a little over a year later, on November 28, 1940.  Commissioned on May 14, 1941, she survived the war to be scrapped in Wales in March of 1947.  She accounted for 20,000 tons of shipping sunk during the Mediterranean Campaign, and, commencing early 1945, a further 20 sailing vessels and coasters in the Pacific Theater. 

According to UBoatNet, she had seven commanders from very early 1941 through late 1945:  Lt. P.J. Cowell, DSC; Lt. Hugh S. MacKenzie; Lt. Cdr. Arthur R. Hezlet, DSC; Lt. Hugo R.B. Newton, DSC; Lt. Cdr. John W. McCoy, DSC; Lt. Newton (once more); and Lt. Michael F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC. 

______________________________

Two illustrations of the Thrasher follow. 

This color painting of the Thrasher, by John Pettit, appropriately entitled “Thrasher Returning from patrol off Crete in March of 1942”, is available at Cranston Military Prints.

The Thrasher underway.  (Photograph FL 9745 from the Imperial War Museum (collection no. 8308-29)).

The emblem of the Thrasher, from the submarine’s Wikipedia entry, originally from RN Subs. 

(Then) Lieutenant (late Captain, eventually Vice Admiral) Hugh Stirling MacKenzie, commander of the Thrasher from October 12, 1941, through March 3, 1943.  Admiral MacKenzie’s oral history, encompassing his military career from 1939 through April of 1945 (in four segments cumulatively totaling approximately two hours) can be accessed at the Imperial War Museum. 

Lieutenant Peter S.W. Roberts, VC, DSC (from Royal Navy Submarine Museum Friends).  Born in July of 1917 in Chesham Bois, Buckinghamshire, he died in December of 1979, at the age of 62.  He is buried at Holy Cross Churchyard, at Newton Ferrers, in Devon.  

______________________________

The Thrasher ended her eighth war patrol at Alexandria, Egypt, on 5 March, 1942.  She remained at that location and Port Said until March 29, when she began her ninth patrol.  On March , one day after her arrival at that city, damage incurred by the submarine was photographed by Lieutenant E.E. Allen, RN, with the resulting images showing external views of the rear section of the submarine, her conning tower, and, close-ups of the bomb penetration points.  Four of these photographs (all four images being part of the Imperial War Museum’s collection) follow.

Photo A13572
“A wired view showing the hole in the conning tower of HMS Thrasher caused by a bomb which failed to explode after it was dropped from an enemy aircraft.”

Photo A8711
A: Where bomb penetrated the gun platform.
A1: The position where the bomb was discovered inside the casing.
B: Position where the second unexploded bomb was discovered lying on the casing, with the bomb represented by the tin can.
C: Petty Officer Gould, VC, standing in the casing-hatch through which bomb from A1 was dragged.

Photo A8710
The Thrasher’s conning tower.
A: Where bomb penetrated the gun platform.
A1: The position where the bomb was discovered inside the casing.
B: Position where 2nd unexploded bomb was discovered lying on the casing, bomb represented by the tin can.
C: Petty Officer Gould, VC, standing in the casing-hatch through which bomb from A1 was dragged.

This web page presents two versions of photo A8710 – of differing contrast – made from the same negative (remember those purely physical things called “photographic negatives”?!).

Photo A13569
The bomb penetration hole in the Thrasher’s conning tower.  This was left by the “first” and more easily (well, comparatively easily!) removed of the two bombs.

______________________________

The Thrasher departed Gibraltar for the United Kingdom on 6 December 1942, arriving in Falmouth of the 14th of that month.  She departed Falmouth for the submarine base at Portsmouth on the 17th, arriving at the latter on 18 December.  The next day, 19 December, she departed Portsmouth for Sheerness, which was reached on 20 December.  Between that date and the commencement of her 14th War Patrol on 6 August, 1943, she was located at various stations in the United Kingdom, conducting exercises, and, undergoing modifications to accept the loading and operation of Welman midget submarines.

______________________________

The Thrasher – or, to be more specific, the return of the Thrasher from her 13th War Patrol – appeared in film as well photographs.  The submarine was featured in the British Pathé film “H.M. Submarine “Thrasher” (1943)”, and British Movietone News’ “H.M.S. ‘Thrasher’ Home From Triumphs”, both of which are comprised of the same stock, albeit the Pathé film being of far better quality.  Though the film is undated, in light of the locations listed above, it was probably taken at Falmouth, Portsmouth, or Sheerness in mid-December of 1942. 

Notably, the film includes very brief comments by Lt. MacKenzie, images of P/O Gould, and members of the Thrasher’s crew displaying a pennant denoting the submarine’s victories against enemy shipping, though the only crewmen specifically identified are Lt. MacKenzie and P/O Gould.  The two screen captures below show Thrasher crewmen with the sub’s victory pennant.  

Another image of members of the Thrasher’s crew, almost certainly taken on the same occasion, can be found at Finding Your Submarine Ancestor.   (Could the original of this image have been a photographic “still” shot, rather than a frame from a film?)

And, another image of the crew; again, also probably a “still” shot…  At the flickr photostream of lossow.vamp, entitled “HMS Thrasher Crew, Dover, Kent 1944”, this image elicited comments by Ted McBale and thrasherlegacy (Jon Davison):

Ted McBale: “GREAT crew GREAT boat.  Saved my father [J. Bale] and some of his pals Agyll and Sutherland Highlanders from Limni Bay Crete on the night of 27/ 28 July sometime after the battle of Crete.  Seventy eight souls were saved that night.  I believe the Commander at that time was Lieutenant Commander Cowell.  Petty Officer Gould became a driving instructor in peace time and sadly had to sell his V.C. to help ends meet.  I believe he passed away in 2001.  Ted Bale.”

Thrasherlegacy (Jon Davison):  “My late father, George Davison is on the right holding the pennant.  Knowing his cheeky nature, he is obviously doing ‘something’ with his right hand behind the pennant, to make the two crew smile like that!  Dad passed away in 1997.  I met some of the crew including PO Tommy Gould at a reunion in Stratford on Thames in the 1990s.  Thanks Jon Davison.”

Close observation of the latter photo seems to show Lt. MacKenzie in the center of the image.

And lastly, a screen capture of P/O Gould standing before the Thrasher’s conning tower. 

______________________________

Thus for the award; what of the man?

Ironically, though P/O Gould’s award of the VC was briefly noted in The Jewish Chronicle on July 13, 1945, two years earlier, another publication presented him in far more detail.  The twenty-nine-year-old Petty Officer and his family were the subject of a photo essay in the March 13, 1943, issue of Parade – Middle East Weekly – Magazine.  (Parade was the basis of an earlier blog post about the Auxiliary Territorial Service.) 

All ten images from this article are presented below, with (transcribed) captions accompanying each photo. 

The one consistent message that emanates from the photos – both intentionally, and naturally – is one of normalcy and continuity: “Life” – A child, family, comradery, and especially peaceful domesticity continue, amidst the challenges and material sacrifices caused by war.  The pictures are certainly posed, but do project an air of spontaneity.  The location of P/O Gould’s home, let alone other scenes (the local grocer and pub) are not given, but the mention of “St. Albans United Services Club” would suggest that the setting is indeed within that city: Saint Albans, in Hertfordshire.

Front Cover
“Thrasher V.C. Goes Home”: P/O Gould, his wife Phyllis, and their baby son Keith, out for a winter stroll.

1
With his wife, son and wife’s parents, P.O. Gould, V.C., enjoys evening beside the fire.

Thrasher VC Goes Home - Gould 12
Mummy and daddy play with Keith on the floor; he is having the time of his life.  Keith has great selection of toys – woolly animals, bricks, trolley, rattle, duck.

3
Petty Officer Gould waits outside shop.  Looks after baby while his wife collects the rations.  Baby behaves well when left with Daddy.  Shop shows all the familiar signs of peacetime.


This image is intriguing, for the placards within and outside the storefront advertise such items at Keens Pies, De Reszke something-or-other, and Typhoon Tea.

I had absolutely no knowledge of any of these products, and that’s where https://duckduckgo.com came in handy.  It turns out that De Reszke was a cigarette brand, memorabilia of which now seems to be collectable, as shown in the image below (from WorthPoint) – displaying a sign seemingly identical, in shape and colors, to the sign before the grocery window.

4
For first time Petty Officer Gould meets his son Keith, aged ten months.  Baby appears more interested in the camera; but mummy seems very proud of them both.

5
A talk over old times in the local.  P.O. Gould has a pint with Mr. C.F. Edwins, a former sergeant-major of the Bedford Regiment.

6
Members of St. Albans United Services Club for cadets waited for submarine hero to come home to open club, were determined he should perform ceremony.  P.O. Gould inspects guard of honour of Sea Cadets.

7
Inside the house too.  P.O. Gould helps.  Together he and his wife quickly polish off the washing up.  Towel seems to indicate that he did the drying.

8
To the man always at home chores may be a bit of a bore, but in the months at sea P.O. Gould dreamed of the time he would be able to do odd jobs about the house.  Now he is busy cleaning the windows.

9
He plans ‘Dig for Victory’ campaign and turns over the garden with his wife’s help.  Both of them find job a source of merriment.  Mrs. Emily Aldridge, P.O. Gould’s mother-in-law, carries baby Keith and looks on.  [Notably, the caption gives the maiden name of Tommy’s wife Phyllis as “Aldridge”, not “Eldridge”, as in other references.]

10
The garden fence had needed painting for a long time, but had to wait until Petty Officer Gould had done more important jobs.

______________________________

Thus for the Victoria Cross: what of P/O Gould’s life, after the war?

Brief overviews of Tommy Gould’s post-award, post-war life are presented in his 2001 obituary, and, at Cranston Military Prints, the latter appearing below:

On 29 June 1943 Gould received his Victoria Cross from King George VI who commented, I bet it was cold.  Gould’s father, Reuben, was lost in action in 1916 before Tommy was two years old. 

Tommy Gould was educated at St James School, Dover, and joined the Royal Navy in 1933 and went into the submarine service three years later.  During the war he experienced the horror of being trapped on the ocean floor in the Dutch East Indies as well as being bombed by the RAF off Alexandria.  But Gould loved the camaraderie of submarine life and, after being invalided out of the Navy in 1945, maintained an interest in the Navy and with the Jewish community.  In 1946 he was in the front row of the Jewish ex-servicemen’s march through London to protest against the government’s policy towards the Jews in Palestine.  He became a Lieutenant with the Bromley branch of the Sea Cadets.  For many years he was Chief Personnel Manager with Great Universal Stores.  He was very proud to have been elected President of the International Submarine Association of Great Britain.  He was also an active member of the Victoria and George Cross Association.  Gould was a smart, dapper man who in his later years wore an impressive naval beard.  His Victoria Cross was sold at Sotheby’s in 1987 for £48,400 and purchased by the Association of Jewish ex-servicemen.  He passed away on 6th December 2001.

But, this seems not to have been the full story.  As known through the annals of human experience – recounted in books; poetry; cinema; in fiction and non-fiction – there has never been a guaranteed correlation between military valor and “success” – in civilian life.  (Then again, “success” is a quality rather subjective…)  Perhaps Tommy Gould’s postwar life represented this, for his receipt of the VC may have become an impediment to employment.  As recounted at RN Subs and elsewhere, “In May of 1965, Tommy Gould’s name was in the papers again, this time as “a VC on the dole”. 

“He had lost his job as personnel manager because of “a clash of personalities” and remarked that he was finding his VC a liability.

“Incredible though it may seem, people in top management seem to shy away from me.  I think it might be because they are afraid that a man with such a record could show too much embarrassing initiative.  If it is the VC which is frightening people away from me I wish they would forget it.  Those days are over.”

This would seem to be consistent with Ted McBale’s above comment – at flickr – that, “Petty Officer Gould became a driving instructor in peace time and sadly had to sell his V.C. to help ends meet.”  Unfortunately, the above-mentioned 1965 news item recounting his postwar challenges is unavailable on the Internet.  (Thankfully, the panopticon otherwise known as “Google” does not yet control all information.  (Yet.))  Even the very title of the publication is unknown.  Perhaps that article still exists somewhere; maybe on a roll of 35mm microfilm, in an as yet unknown archive, library, or repository. 

Tommy Gould passed away in 2001 at the age of 86.  FindAGrave lists his place of burial as the Peterborough Crematorium, in Cambridgeshire. 

In the way of all men, his memory now belongs to the ages.

References

Thomas W. Gould

Biography (Military Art)

Biography (Royal Navy Subs)

Biography (Kent History Forum)

Obituary (The Guardian)

Obituary (The Telegraph)

Obituary (Independent)

Place of Commemoration / Burial (FindAGrave)

Photograph: Gould, Thomas W. and Roberts, Peter S.W. (Lieutenant PSW Roberts VC and Petty Officer T. Gould VC HSM Thrasher, Mediterranean 1942” (Friends of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum)

Peter S.W. Roberts

Biography – Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts (Royal Navy Subs)

Biography – Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts (FindAGrave)

Photograph: Gould, Thomas W. and Roberts, Peter S.W. (Lieutenant PSW Roberts VC and Petty Officer T. Gould VC HSM Thrasher, Mediterranean 1942” (Friends of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum)

Lieutenant Hugh Stirling MacKenzie

Biography (Wikipedia)

Biography (U-Boat Net)

Oral History (Imperial War Museum)

Obituary (The Herald (Scotland))

HMS Thrasher

Historical Profile (U-Boat Net)

Historical Profile (Royal Navy Subs)

Badge (Wikipedia)

Painting: “HMS Thrasher returning from patrol off Crete in March 1942” – Color Painting by John Pettit (Cranston Military Prints – Item DHM6106Y) (Military Art)

Photograph: “Underway” (Wikimedia Commons – Imperial War Museum (Image 8308-29))

Photograph: “HMS Thrasher Crew at Dover, Kent, 1944” (lossow.vamp photostream at Flicker)

Photograph of Thrasher Crew (Forces War Records – Finding Your Submarine Ancestor)

Photographs of damage incurred during evening of February 16-17, 1942 (Imperial War Museum)

Photo A13572 (IWM Collection 205146864)

Photo A8711 (IWM Collection 205142636)

Photo A8710 (IWM Collection 205142635)

Photo A13569 (IWM Collection 205146861)

Films

“HMS Thrasher Home From Triumphs” (British Movietone YouTube Channel)

“H.M. Submarine “Thrasher” (British Pathé YouTube Channel)

Miscellaneous

De Reszke Cigarette Sign (Worthpoint)

Victoria Cross (Wikipedia)

Jewish Victoria Cross Recipients (London Jews in the First World War)

VC * GC Association (VCGCA)

Book

Morris, Henry, and Halter, Hilary, We Will Remember Them – A Record of the Jews Who Died in the Armed Forces of the Crown, 1939-1945: An Addendum, AJEX, London, England, 1994 (Tommy Gould, pp. 90-91)

Soldiers of The Great War: Jewish Military Service in WW I, as Reported in The Jewish Chronicle – “The Action in Heligoland Bight”, September 25, 1914 (Stoker Syd Braham)

Here is another news item about a Jewish sailor in the Royal Navy: Stoker Syd Braham, of HMS Falmouth. 

The Falmouth, a light cruiser built for the Royal Navy, was launched on September 20, 1910, and commissioned in September of 1911.  She participated in most of the early fleet actions, including the Battles of Heligoland Bight, Dogger Bank, and Jutland, but was only seriously engaged in the latter.  She was torpedoed and sunk off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, by German submarines on 19 August, 1916, with one fatality.  

A portrait of Stoker Braham was published in the 7 October issue of The Jewish World, and appears below.

____________________

THE ACTION IN HELIGOLAND BIGHT

The Jewish Chronicle

September 25, 1914

Mr. J. Braham, of Sydenham Park Road, sends us an interesting letter he had recently received from his brother, Stoker Syd Braham, H.M.S. “Falmouth”.  In the course of this letter, Stoker Braham writes, “We were in the affair in Heligoland, and might say we were the foremost ship.  We sank two German cruisers and escaped in a burning and sinking condition.  You ought to have been on our ship and heard the shells buzzing over our ‘Tags (ears)’.  We didn’t get hit – not a scratch.  You ought to have seen the ship burning.  You could see the men [the enemy’s apparently] going mad and jumping into the water.  It was a horrible scene.”  “Syd” concludes with a warm greeting to his brother and sister and other relatives.

Reference

HMS Falmouth, at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Falmouth_(1910).

 

Soldiers of The Great War: Jewish Military Service in WW I, as Reported in The Jewish Chronicle – “The Sinking of the Pathfinder”, September 11, 1914 (Stoker William Stern)

The photograph below appeared in the September 9 issue of The Jewish World. 

It commemorates Stoker 1st Class William Stern (K/5331) of the Royal Navy, who was killed in the sinking of HMS Pathfinder on September 5; four days earlier. 

Born in Bishopsgate, London, on July 3, 1891, William was the son of Jacob and Esther.  His name is memorialized on Panel 5 of the Chatham Naval Memorial, in Kent. 

The very brief, two-sentence announcement of his death which is presented below, appeared in the Chronicle on September 11.

As for the Pathfinder…  A plethora of information about the ship, her crew, and her loss can be found on the Internet.  She has the tragic distinction of having been the first ship ever to have been sunk by a motor-powered (self-propelled) torpedo. 

(Based on the Wikipedia entry…)  She was launched in July of 1904 and commissioned in 1905, as the lead ship of the Pathfinder class of scout cruisers.  Struck in a forward magazine by a torpedo fired by the U-Boat U-21 (commanded by Otto Hersing) while off the Firth of Forth, she exploded, and sank within four minutes.  The total number of casualties is reported to have been 250, with eighteen known survivors, including the ship’s captain, Captain Francis Martin-Leake. 

As reported in the Daily Mail on September 8, 2014, a century after the Pathfinder’s sinking, a wreath was placed over the site of her wreck by members of the British Sub-Aqua Club, in the presence of members of the Royal Navy, and, Royal Marines. 

Among those in attendance were members of Stoker Stern’s family, a photograph of whom appears in the Mail’s article.

Note that the caption mentions the Pathfinder as having been sunk by a mine.  This was reported as such due to the Admiralty’s belief – at the time – that surface warships could not be sunk by torpedoes.

____________________

The Sinking of the Pathfinder
JEWISH SAILOR GOES DOWN WITH THE SHIP

The Jewish Chronicle
September 11, 1914

We regret to announce that among the crew of H.M.S. “Pathfinder” who perished when that vessel was mined in the North Sea was a Jew, Stoker William Stern.  Stoker Stern’s relatives reside in Bell Lane, E.

References

U-21 Sinks HMS Pathfinder 5 September 1914, by Martin Gibson.

Tribute to the first ever casualty of the U-Boats: Divers lay wreath on the wreck of HMS Pathfinder 100 years after submarine sent it to the bottom

H.M.S. Pathfinder (1904)