By Garry Fabian
Australian Jewish News
MELBOURNE, Australia –The annual Remembrance Day commemoration on 11th November, not only marks the day when World War One officially ended, commemorating those who served and made the ultimate scarify in a war over a century ago, but is an continuing tribute to all who served in subsequent wars and conflicts in which Australian personal were involved.
It is connecting with all Australians, but also has a special connection with our Jewish community and VAJEX (Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen & Women Australia) in particular. The Jewish record in services in both World War One, World War Two and other conflicts is a record of immense pride. The statistics of Jewish war service in the armed forces of Australia reveal a remarkedly disproportional response from a tiny section of the general Australian community.
The sacrifices of Jewish service personnel and the level of personal achievement of service men and women far exceeds proportionally the comparative statistics for the rest of Australia.
Furthermore, the contribution made to Australia by Jewish survivors of Australia’s wars and the services rendered by them to the well-being of Australia and its citizens is as remarkable and distinctive as the war-time service itself.
VAJEX Australia is the symbol and torch bearer of the Jewish spirit which permeated the Allied fight for survival and freedom. It is a beacon which has focused on the ANZAC spirit which flowered in abundance through the blood of Australian Jewry. As a fully identifiably but integrated part of the total Australian population, the Jewish community has a record which is literally second to none in its services and sacrifices for the preservation of the highest Jewish and Australian ideals and in safeguarding of freedom and peace in times of both peace and war.
It is proper that some of the highlights, notable achievements and landmarks in the history of VAJEX Australia be recalled on Remembrance Day 2021.
It is also appropriate to both list the some of the personalities who have served both Australia and VAJEX for over a century. The statistics of Jewish enlistment in the 1914 -1918 war reveal that out of a total Australian Jewish population of less than 18,000 more than 2,300 or in excess of 12% enlisted voluntarily in the AIF, as against 9% of the whole population.
A total of 176 Jewish soldiers held Commissioned Officer rank, the most distinguished was General Sir John Monash. Sixty-one Jewish solders from Victoria alone were killed in action.
In World War Two more than 3,800 Jewish men and women served in the Australian Armed Forces representing a significantly higher percentage the national enlistment rate. Of these 134 paid the supreme sacrifice, including 58 from Victoria. In both world wars, the death toll of Australian Jewish servicemen was slightly higher than that of their non-Jewish fellow Australians.
The remarkably high rate of enlistment in the 1939-1945 War had a unique impact on Jewish communal life in Victoria. Of 72 male members of the Youth Group of the Liberal synagogue, 59 enlisted. From the 3rd St.Kilda Scout Group 129 or 25% of former scouts enlisted. Almost 100% of the male membership of Jewish sporting clubs joined the services.
Australian Jewry’s very high numerical proportionate contribution to the armed services, together with a high level of inspiration and leadership within the Forces, as well as many recorded accounts of gallantry, provide an illustrious chapter in Australian history of which every Australian, both Jewish and non-Jewish, should feel proud. Australian Jewish serviceman and women received no less that 120 war-time awards for bravery and conspicuous service, a remarkable achievement for such a small percentage of the Australian population.
Following the war there was the urge to maintain contact between those who had served, and several organizations emerged to cater for this desire. One of the more formal body, The Victorian Jewish Returned Soldiers Circle, the forerunner what evolved into VAJEX, was founded under the auspices of Sir John Monash.
Over the decades its presidents were leading Jewish luminaries who were prominent in many of the major Jewish organizations. In line with the changing profile of the Jewish community, the constitution of the organization was widened to include servicemen and women who served in any of the allied forces against the common enemy. The ranks of VAJEX Australia membership grew to embrace a very wide and representative group of veterans from many lands who have made Australia their new home.
The National body – The Australian Federation of Jewish Ex-Service organizations has branches in five Australian states, and organizes memorial services on ANZAC Day, Remembrancer Day as well as with its welfare services for returned service personnel.
With the passage of time and the passing of ex-service personnel, now not ex-service personnel can join VAJEX to keep the association flourishing in the future and to keep the flame of remembrance alive, continuing to maintain both its traditions and more importantly to remember the service and sacrifice of those who served in Australian Services for well over a century.
LEST WE FORGET
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Garry Fabian is a freelance writer based in Melbourne, Australia, whose works appear periodically on San Diego Jewish World. This piece was written for the Australian Jewish News and is reprinted with permission.
In New Zealand the day is acknowledged in a very small way. No poppies are sold. All wars are remembered on ANZAC Day on April 25th. In my town Waipukurau the War memorial has names on it from four wars. 1. The Boer War in South Africa. 2. World War 1 3. World War 2 and 4. the Vietnam War. | ANZAC day starts at the memorial with the dawn Parade followed by breakfast and a tot of Rum. About 8 years ago we were joined by a detachment of US Marines who were in NZ force exercises with our Army. I have a photo of them all sitting on and climbing all over a WW 2 Bren Gun carrier. The Marines’ Home base was somewhere north east of LA.
I don’t know much about the New Zealand Jewish community’s involvement in the wars. I do know that the official History of the ww1 Sinai Palestine campaign records a story of a Jewish lady approaching our Mounted rifles and asking if her son was in the force. The answer was yes he is in the Auckland Regiment. The CO gave him leave to be with his Mother. This incident happened near Rishon Le Zion. I know of one Jewish Soldier from my town Waipukurau who fought in WW 2 and he returned