Jewish Legion

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This article is about the British Army battalions known as the Jewish Legion or Zion Mule Corps, which fought in World War I against the Ottoman Empire. For other Jewish legions, see Jewish legion (disambiguation).

The Jewish Legion was the name for five battalions of Jewish volunteers established as the British Army's 38th through 42nd (Service) Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers. The initial unit, known as the Zion Mule Corps, was formed in 1914-1915 during World War I, when Britain was at war against the Ottoman Turks, as Zionists around the world saw an opportunity to promote the idea of a Jewish National Homeland.

Jabotinsky (L) and Trumpeldor in uniform.

In December 1914, Zeev Jabotinsky and Joseph Trumpeldor raised the idea of the formation of a Jewish unit that would participate in the British military effort to conquer Palestine from the Ottoman Empire, and by the end of March 1915, 500 Jewish volunteers from the Jews in Egypt who had been deported there by the Turks had started training. The Zion Mule Corps served on the Gallipoli front, as for political reasons the British opposed the participation of Jewish volunteers on the Palestinian front, but ultimately, in August 1917, the formation of a Jewish regiment was officially announced. The soldiers of the 38th and 39th Battalions of the Royal Fusiliers, made up almost entirely of Jews from Britain, Russia, the United States and Canada and later, the 40th Battalion, composed of Jews from the Ottoman provinces of Palestine and other areas, served in the Jordan Valley and fought the Turks some 20 miles north of Jerusalem.

A recruitment poster published in American Jewish magazines. Daughter of Zion (representing the Jewish people): I want your Old New Land! Join the Jewish regiment.
A recruitment poster published in American Jewish magazines. Daughter of Zion (representing the Jewish people): I want your Old New Land! Join the Jewish regiment.

Contents

[edit] Background

The British opposed the participation of Jewish volunteers on the Palestinian front and they were put to serve as a detachment for mule transport on another sector of the Turkish front. Trumpeldor formed the 650-strong Zion Mule Corps, of whom 562 were sent to the Gallipoli front.

[edit] The Gallipoli front

Main articles: Battle of Gallipoli and Landing at Cape Helles
Cape Helles landing map
Cape Helles landing map

On April 25, 1915, together with the first British, Australian, New Zealand and French troops, the Jewish Legion landed on Gallipoli peninsula. It was led by the Commander Lt. Colonel John Henry Patterson, DSO (of Irish Protestant origin) and was met with heavy shelling and machine gun fire at the shore of Cape Helles. Trumpeldor was the deputy commander; Jabotinsky served as an officer. There, a Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to Private M. Groushkowsky, who prevented his mules from stampeding under heavy bombardment and despite being wounded in both arms, delivered the ammunition. Trumpeldor was shot through the shoulder but refused to leave the battlefield. Patterson later wrote: "Many of the Zionists whom I thought somewhat lacking in courage showed themselves fearless to a degree when under heavy fire, while Captain Trumpeldor actually revelled in it, and the hotter it became the more he liked it..."[1]

[edit] Official formation of the Jewish regiment

The 38th battalion of the Jewish Legion marches in the streets of London. February 22, 1918
The 38th battalion of the Jewish Legion marches in the streets of London. February 22, 1918

Between the dissolution of the Zion Mule Corps and the formation of the Jewish Legion, Jabotinsky and Trumpeldor and 120 Zion Mule Corps Veterans served together in Platoon 16 of the 20th Battalion of the London Regiment.

Finally, in August 1917, the formation of a Jewish regiment was officially announced. The unit was designated as the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and included British volunteers, as well as members of the former Zion Mule Corps and a large number of Russian Jews. On April 1918, it was joined by the 39th Battalion, made up almost entirely of Jews who were resident in the United States and Canada.

Thousands of Palestinian Jews also applied to join the Legion and in 1918, more than 1,000 were enlisted. 92 Turkish Jews who had been captured in the fighting earlier were also permitted to enlist. This group was organized as the 40th Battalion. The 41st and 42nd Battalions were Depot Battalions stationed in Plymouth, England.

[edit] Action in the Jordan Valley, 1918

Main articles: Battle of Jerusalem (1917) and Battle of Megiddo (1918)
December 1917. Jewish Legion soldiers at the Western Wall after the British take-over of Jerusalem
December 1917. Jewish Legion soldiers at the Western Wall after the British take-over of Jerusalem

In June 1918, the volunteers of the 38th Battalion began engaging the Turks some 20 miles north of Jerusalem. In the fighting in the Jordan Valley, more than 20 Legionnaires were killed, wounded, or captured, the rest came down with malaria, and 30 of this group later died. The Legion then came under the command of Major General E.W.C. Chaytor,[2] who commanded the Anzac Mounted Division.

Besides various skirmishes, the Legion also participated in the Battle of Megiddo in mid-September, 1918, widely considered to have been one of the final and decisive victories of the Ottoman front.

The Legion's mission was to cross the Jordan River. Jabotinsky led the effort. Later, he was decorated and General Chaytor told the Jewish troops: "By forcing the Jordan fords, you helped in no small measure to win the great victory gained at Damascus."

[edit] Legacy

The Jewish Legion cap badge: menorah and word קדימה Kadima
The Jewish Legion cap badge: menorah and word קדימה Kadima
The Legion casualties in WWI[3]
Battalion Fatalities
38th 43
39th 23
40th 12
42nd 3
38th/40th 9
Transferred from
Jewish Legion		 1

Almost all the members of the Jewish regiments were discharged immediately after the end of World War I in November 1918. Some of them returned to their respective countries, others settled in Palestine to realize their Zionist aspirations. In late 1919, the Jewish Legion was reduced to one battalion titled First Judeans, and awarded a distinctive cap badge, a menorah with the Hebrew word קדימה Kadima (forward) at the base.

The flag of the First Judeans.
The flag of the First Judeans.

[edit] Post World War I Palestine and the Legion

Former members of the Legion took part in defense of Jewish communities during Riots in Palestine of 1920, which resulted in the arrest of Jabotinsky. Two former members of the Legion were killed with Captain Trumpeldor at Tel Hai. One former member of the Legion was killed in Tel Aviv-Jaffa during Jaffa riots of 1921. Members of the "Jewish Legion" settled in Avihayil.

[edit] Notable Legion members

1918. Private David Ben-Gurion, a volunteer in the Jewish Legion
1918. Private David Ben-Gurion, a volunteer in the Jewish Legion
The First Judeans commemorative medal
The First Judeans commemorative medal

[edit] References

  1. ^ Martin Gilbert. The Jews in the Twentieth Century. An Illustrated History (Schocken Books, 2001) ISBN 0-8052-4190-6 p.85
  2. ^ Bio of E.W.C. Chaytor (firstworldwar.com)
  3. ^ Approximate numbers, according to Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[edit] External links

[edit] Further reading

  • Patterson, John H. With the Judeans in the Palestine campaign. London: Hutchinson & Co., [ca. 1922]
  • Jabotinsky, Valdimir. The story of the Jewish Legion. New York: Bernard Ackerman, 1945. ISBN B0007DE88U
  • Freulich, Roman. Soldiers in Judea;: Stories and vignettes of the Jewish Legion. Herzl Press, 1965. ISBN B0007-EN0G-K
  • Gilner, Elias. Fighting dreamers; a history of the Jewish Legion in World War One,: With a glimpse at other Jewish fighting groups of the period. 1968. ASIN B0006BT7KM
  • Gilner, Elias. War and Hope. A History of the Jewish Legion. New York; Herzl Press: 1969. ISBN B0006C2O2E
  • Kraines, Oscar. The soldiers of Zion: The Jewish Legion, 1915-1921. 1985. ASIN B0006YWX5U
  • Marrion, R.J. "The Jewish Legion," 39th (service) battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 1918-1919. 1987. ASIN B000719GOS
  • Watts, Martin. The Jewish Legion and the First World War. 2004. ISBN 1-4039-3921-7

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