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Lot 25
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WWII Jewish Brigade Soldier, Remarkable Archive Including Uniforms, Military Supplies, Equipment & Awards
WWII Jewish Brigade Soldier, Remarkable Archive Including Uniforms, Military Supplies, Equipment & Awards
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Description:

WWII Jewish Brigade Soldier, Remarkable Archive Including Uniforms, Military Supplies, Equipment & Awards

The artifacts in this lot are related to the Jewish Brigade Group of the British Army, which fought under the Zionist flag and was formally established in September 1944. It included more than 5,000 Jewish volunteers from Palestine organized into three infantry battalions and several supporting units. The Jewish Brigade fought against the Germans in Italy from March 1945 until the end of the war in May 1945. After the German surrender, the Jewish Brigade was stationed along the Italian border with Austria and Yugoslavia, and later in Belgium and the Netherlands. Some soldiers from the Brigade helped create displaced persons camps for Jewish survivors of the Holocaust. Britain disbanded the Jewish Brigade Group in the summer of 1946.

Brigade members became involved in organizing the flight of Jewish refugees from eastern Europe and their clandestine entry into Palestine. Individual soldiers acquired arms for the Haganah, the major Jewish underground defense organization in Palestine. The Palestinian Jews in the British army and air force learned a broad range of military subjects - combat, administration, technology and logistics of a modern army - and transferred this knowledge to the Jewish defense forces in Palestine. This was to be of great use to the Israel Defense Forces, offspring of the Haganah, which was established during the War of Independence.

The lot is comprised of:

APPAREL

(1) Original khaki uniform shirt worn by a member of the Jewish Brigade Group in World War II. Sewn onto the left shoulder is a 3.5" by 3.75" cloth embroidered with the three-letter abbreviation of the Chativah Yehudith Lochemeth (Jewish Fighting Force) in Hebrew above the words "Jewish Brigade Group." A 2.25" patch depicting a flag of three vertical stripes (light blue-white-light blue) with the Star of David superimposed in the center has been sewn beneath the brigade name. The name "Feist" has been inked inside the collar. The shirt shows considerable weathering, and has scattered stains. Measures approximately 18” wide across the shoulders, and 29.5” collar to hem.

(2) Original olive tweed jacket worn in World War II, embroidered on the left and right shoulder in pink, on red cloth, the name of the soldier's regiment: "East Surrey." Moth-eaten with numerous rips and holes. Missing the belt and buttons, and stained. Measures approximately 18” wide across the shoulders, and 17.5” collar to hem.

The jacket was possibly worn by Feist, since all these items come from his collection and this jacket appears to be the same size as the previous uniform shirt. During World War II, the East Surrey Regiment fought in Italy, as did the Jewish Brigade Group, then saw service in Palestine after the war.

(3) Olive green hat with drop-down cloth sides which button together. The British Royal Coat of Arms is on each of the two buttons. A metal fastening hook on each corner of hat leading to the drop-down cloth sides would latch onto the first air-hole at the front of the hat in order to hold the flaps in place. Tears in the flaps. Measures approximately 11.25” long.

(4) Olive green heavy canvas belt pouch imprinted inside the top flap, "Barcraft Ltd. 1945." 4.5" x 10" x 2.5.” Attachments on verso to fit onto a chest harness or belt.

(5) Beige canvas pouch with press stud and metal attachments on verso to fit onto a belt. 5" x 4" x 1.5."

6) A piece of olive green canvas, scalloped at one edge, imprinted "J. & A. H. 1944" with a broad arrow and "3." Two leather straps at one end, two buckles attached to canvas at the other end. Two semi-circular leather patches sewn at scalloped edge. 13.5" x 5.75.”

(7) Five corporal and sergeant stripes, including two cloth corporal stripes, each with a two-bar chevron, measuring 3.5" on each lower side; two felt-backed, embroidered corporal stripes, each with a two-bar chevron, measuring 3.5" on each lower side; and one embroidered sergeant stripes with a three-bar chevron, measuring 3.5" on each lower side, with a metal crown affixed at top center.

(8) Olive green cloth band with "Palestine" embroidered across it, which may have been used to hide the shoulder bars, identifying the officer's rank, from enemy sharpshooters. 2.5" x 1."

(9) Three campaign ribbons including: the "Italy Star" awarded for operational service on land in Sicily, mainland Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, the Aegean and the Dodecanese, Corsica, Sardinia, and Elba, at any time during the campaign from June 11, 1943 (capture of Pantelleria) to May 8, 1945; the "Defense Medal" granted for three years' service in Great Britain, or six months' service overseas in territories subjected to air attacks or closely threatened including UK Forces serving in West Africa, Palestine, and India; and the "War Medal" awarded to personnel of the Armed Forces of the British Commonwealth serving between September 3, 1939 and September 2, 1945. Largest measures 3.75” x .5.”

EQUIPMENT

(10) Olive green canvas medical kit container with a red "Star of David" on a white circle imprinted on the flap, 4.5" x 4.5" x 2.5." "T.F. Spec. Co./1945" is printed under the flap. Inside are four rolls of gauze, four narrower gauze roll bandages, and a small cloth sack imprinted "First Field Dressing" containing "Two dressings in Waterproof Covers."

The container hooked into the eyelets of either Pistol or Cartridge Belts, making it within easy reach of the wearer, and could be opened or closed by two press studs.

(11) Rifle cleaning kit, an olive green metal container with a 3.5" wooden handle brush attached under the top cover and a 3.75" cylindrical oil bottle (½" diameter) with liquid still inside, 48" long "Pull Through" cord with 3" long metal attachment, and an 8" x 3.5" cloth, each in a separate compartment. Measures 4.25" x 2.75" x 1" overall.

PERSONAL EFFECTS

(12) Six small keys attached with string to two metal tags embossed with the name "Feist."

(13) Plastic case with cover, probably used for soap, with the Star of David on one side and a white and blue flag (identical to the top two stripes of the Israeli flag) on the other. 2.25" x 3" x 1" overall.

(14) Pocket booklet, "The Services Diary, 1948," "Published by The Army Sport Control Board. Obtainable from: The Army Sport Control Board, War Office, London, S.W. 1. or By Members of His Majesty's Forces from any N.A.A.F. Institute." Calendar for the year, four days to each page, with British and World War II events noted. Includes a map of the London Underground, badges of rank of commissioned officers in the British armed forces, orders and decorations, postal information, 1948 Olympics events calendar, and blank pages upon which has been written numbers and words in Hebrew. 134 pages, 3" x 4.5.”

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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August 26, 2021 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000