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The Jews of the British Empire were fortunate compared to others of their race and religion elsewhere in the world, where persecution and pogroms were the order of the day - but they still had to fight prejudice and bigotry. Their performance in the Great War - proudly recorded in this two volume book - is by way of being their answer. For, as Winston Churchill pointed out in a foreword to the book, although Jews only made up a tiny fraction of the Empire's population, some 60,000 enlisted and fought in the war; of whom 2,324 gave their lives, and 6,350 were wounded. There were five Jewish recipients of Great War Victoria Crosses; and 1,533 won other awards - including 50 DSOs; 242 MCs; 80 DCMs; 308 MMs and 374 mentions in despatches.'This record is a great one' concluded Churchill. 'And British Jews can look back with pride on the honourable part they played in winning the Great War'. The book also contains a foreword by perhaps the most distinguished Jewish commander in the war, Sir John Monash, C.O. of the Austrialian Corps.Originally printed in 1922, as well as an outline story of the service of British Jewry it includes:- a Roll of Honour of the Dead, showing their unit, date of death, and home address; records of honours and awards including citations for Military Crosses; Distinguished Conduct Medals; a nominal roll of Jews serving in His Majesty's Forces on a Regiment by Regiment basis, a photographic record of the fallen and their memorials. Also includes group photographs.
