The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

157th Infantry Brigade, 52nd (Lowland) Division
An Urgent Appeal for Help

To mark the success of their crossing of the Auja (today's River Yarkon) on the night of 20th-21st December 1917, General Hill and the 52nd (Lowland) Division took three columns from the ruins of Apollonia and set them up at the three crossing points. One column (dedicated to the 155th Brigade) is in the city of Ramat Gan and is very well looked after. The second one (to the 156th Brigade) is in General Hill Square, Tel Aviv, and while it is not in as good a condition as the 155th's, it is nevertheless in not too bad a shape. The same however, cannot be said for the third column; that to the 157th Brigade.

It suffers from its position being so close to the sea; the 157th Brigade crossed the river at a ford almost at the river's mouth. Here the higher humidity during the summer and the salt spray of winter storms have taken their toll on what is after all, a column which was already 2000 years old when it was re-sited by the British in the First World War.

That's the bad news, and as if that was not enough, unfortunately, it's not all. When the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffo refurbished the site in the 1990s they placed into the steps of the column's plinth, a plaque informing the public that the soldiers of the 52nd (Lowland) Division were AUSTRALIAN in stead of SCOTTISH!

1] On 24th June 2007, I wrote, by registered letter, to the Mayor of Tel Aviv asking that he confirm for me that any forthcoming redevelopment work at this site would include the removal of the 'Australian' reference, and that any new plaque would refer to the SCOTTISH soldiers of the 52nd (Lowland) Division.

2] The letter was detailed and had included with it, a file containing the following;
* a photograph of the current (incorrect) plaque in the steps of the 157th Infantry Brigade's column
* a map of the operation 20-21st December 1917 taken from the British Official History
showing the elements of the 52nd (Lowland ) Division and where they crossed the Auja
* an extract from the account of this operation given by W. T. Massey in his book 'How Jerusalem was Won' published London, 1919.
* the text of that part of General Allenby's despatch in which he refers to this operation
* a photomontage of the aerial reconnaissance taken by the British prior to the operation
as published in Benjamin Z. Kedar's book 'The Changing Land between the Jordan and the Sea'
* photographs from the collection of the Imperial War Museum, London, showing the river and some of the crossing points etc in World War I

3] The Israeli Post Office has supplied a receipt confirming that the letter was received at the municipality the next day, 25th June 2007.

4] To date, I have received neither reply nor acknowledgement to my letter of 24th June 2007

5] On 31st July 2007, I once again wrote to the Mayor of Tel Aviv reminding him of my earlier letter.

6] I have still not received either acknowledgement or reply.

In view of the above, I appeal to my fellow forum members for assistance in persuading the municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffo to correct their previous mistake, and for them to take the earliest opportunity to correctly attribute the 157th Infantry Brigades column to the Scottish soldiers who fought for the protection of Tel Aviv and the harbour at Jaffo in December 1917.

I invite you to contact the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffo, Mr. Ron Huldai, at
http://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/english/general/contact/contact.htm
Please also try to find time to contact your local Israeli Consular representative to let them know about this matter.

Finally, I ask that your communications be to the point, that they be aware of the dignity of this forum, and the honour and respect in which we hold the memory of the 52nd (Lowland) Division.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter which I hold to be important.

Michael
[/img][img][/img][img][/img][img][/img]

DerekR · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:29 pm Post subject:

The Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffo, Mr. Ron Huldai obviously doens't know that Australians are only Scots who could swim.

E-mail on it's way to him.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

DerekR · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:37 pm Post subject:

My e-mail to him:

Can you please take the earliest opportunity to correctly attribute the 157th Infantry Brigades column to the Scottish soldiers who fought for the protection of Tel Aviv and the harbour at Jaffo in December 1917 and not to the Australians who are currently commemorated there?
Thank you.
_________________

Time but th' impression stronger makes, As streams their channels deeper wear.

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Many thanks Derek

I will keep the Forum informed of any progress

best regards
Michael

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:34 pm Post subject:

There is an Israeli information office in Glasgow.

IIC
222 Fenwick Road
Giffnock
Glasgow, G46 6UE

Tel: 0141 577 8240

See here:

http://london.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/document.asp?/SubjectID=32100&MissionID=34&LanguageID=0&StatusID=0&DocumentID=-1

I don't know if it would be worth contacting them.

In the mean time I'll be typing up a mail to Ron Huldai.

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:49 pm Post subject:

Just a thought, but does anyone know of any MSPs or MPs with any connections to Israel it may be worth contacting?

Adam

Adam Brown · Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject:

Just to answer my own question there is the All-Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group

Details here:

http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/memi496.htm

And copied from that site:

TITLE All-Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group

PURPOSE To promote an understanding of battlefield heritage; to assist the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; to encourage education programmes in this field; and to support efforts to conserve war heritage sites.

There are quite a few MPs and Peers on this committee who must have some influence. It may be worth contacting them not just about the Australian reference but about the state of the memorial itself.

Unfortunately the honourable members of the House of Lords aren't like the whippersanppers of the Scottish parliament and aren't contactable through e-mail.

Adam

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Adam,

Many thanks for your helpful suggestion
You may write to the 'Chair' of the All-Party Parliamentary War Graves and Battlefields Heritage Group via the following web-site
http://www.writetothem.com/write?fyr_extref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theyworkforyou.com%2Fpeer%2Flord_faulkner_of_worcester&who=31236

I think that we should explore all avenues to ensure that the truth is passed on to future generations and that our fathers' deeds are not forgotten

Michael

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

quote from post #1; "Please also try to find time to contact your local Israeli Consular representative to let them know about this matter."

If you wish to contact the State of Israel's representative on this matter
then the following site lists details
http://london.mfa.gov.il/mfm/web/main/document.asp?SubjectID=1010&MissionID=34&LanguageID=0&StatusID=0&DocumentID=-1

Michael

David McNay · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject:

Email on its way to Ron Huldai.

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Many thanks David

and best regards
Michael

Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject:

Michael

I contacted Ron Huldai last night and Lord Faulkner just now.

Regards

Adam

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Adam,

Thanks again for your efforts on this
I too have followed-up on your suggestions

with best regards
Michael

michaeldr · Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Lest you should think that we are alone in this effort
I am pleased to report that I have just received a message from the Israeli photographer Mr. I.F., who is currently working on a project based on the River Yarkon (Auja). He has heard of the problem which we have and he has told me that he too has sent an e-mail to the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Jaffo regarding this matter.

John Donne's words are as true today as they ever were
"Any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in Mankind;
And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee."

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2007 2:20 pm Post subject:

Michael,

E-mail sent to Ron Huldai in support of your efforts.

rgds.,
Mark Duffy