Southend-on-Sea Jewish Community

Flight Lieutenant Solomon FINE

Flight Lieutenant Solomon FINE was born in 1899 in Monmouth Wales but lived most of his life in Southend, first in North Road and later in Southchurch Rd. He went to London Road School and then Southend High School. His father Harry was a pawnbroker who together with his mother Louise, had originally come from Germany. Solomon had two sisters Goldie and Sadie and a brother Louis. He joined up in February 1917 and was posted to the Army Service Corps which were responsible for transport and supplies. He later obtained his commission in the RAF as a cadet. On 18^th May 1918 he was killed in France. A letter from his Flight Commander states “…he died as he lived, a very gallant gentleman”. He and his observer were on patrol when a violent thunderstorm came up overtaking them on their way to the aerodrome’. Flight Lieutenant Fine is buried in Contay British Cemetery which is in Northern France between Arras and Amiens.

Michael JACOBS

Not a lot is known about Michael JACOBS other than that he was born in 1897 to Joseph and Deborah Jacobs. His father had come originally from Poland and was a wholesale clothier. His mother was born in London. Michael had one sibling, Jessie. Michael was a private in the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) and died on the 9^th February 1917. He is buried in Varennes cemetery which is also in the Somme area of France between Arras and Amiens.

Hyman NOVITZKY

Hyman NOVITZKY was a Private in the 10^th battalion London Regiment. He was born in Russia in 1898. His father was Joseph Novitzky who lived in The Leas in Westcliff and his mother’s name was Anna. Hyman died on 20^th August 1918 and is buried in Villers –Bretanneux cemetery which is also in the Somme area of France. He had three brothers, Solomon (who changed his name to Novitt), Reuben and Jacob..

Cecil and Edward TRUEFITT

Cecil and Edward TRUEFITT were brothers. Their father Edward lived in Hampstead, but their uncle Lewis Levy lived in Cambridge Road in Southend.

Cecil who was born in 1891 had been living and farming in Australia and had not long since returned to England. As he was an expert horseman he joined the Essex Yeomonary. On 13^th May 1915 at Potijze-Verlorenhoek Belgium the Essex Yeomanry suffered 60% losses on what has been described as a black day for Essex. Trooper Cecil Truefitt died on the following day. In a local newspaper article, his uncle explained that he was a frequent and popular visitor to the Southend area. With no known grave he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

Cecil’s older brother Edward Emanuel TRUEFITT was a Sergeant in the 3^rd, 39^th & 40^th Battalions (Jewish) Royal Fusiliers also know as the Jewish Legion. The Legion was formed with the hope of fulfilling the wish for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Edward was born in 1888 in Stoke Newington. He married Beatrice Krohn in December 1913 and was the only one of our five soldiers who was married. He was killed in what was then Palestine on 29^th August 1918 and is buried in the Kantara War Cemetery in Egypt.

Michael Samuel Cecil MOSELY

Michael Samuel Cecil MOSELY was a Private in the 7^th Border Regiment. He was born in Shepherds Bush in 1897 the son of Maurice Mosely who was a solicitor, and Ethel Mosely, nee Montague. He had three brothers, Montague, George and Edmund. The family moved to Westcliff before 1911 living first in Meteor Road and then in Crosby Lodge in Crosby Road. Prior to the war, Michael joined the Essex Territorials. He was mobilised in August 1914 and reported missing presumed dead on 23^rd April 1917 in Arras. With no known grave, he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.

World War II

Researched and written by Anne Marcus

Dennis BAUM

Dennis Jacob Baum was born in Edinburgh, where he resided with his wife Muriel. He was the first cousin of Derek Baum of Westcliff. He joined the Scots Regiment and then transferred to the RAF where he served as a volunteer reserve pilot in the Bomber Command. Dennis was killed on 4 March 1945 and is buried in Pershill Cemetery Edinburgh.

Bernard BLYWEISS

Bernard was the son of Davis and Annie Rose (nee Greenbaum) Blyweiss. Born in 1920 he had two sisters, Betty and Sheila and they resided in Westcliff. Bernard enlisted in the Royal Artillery as a gunner. Bernard died on 3 October 1944 in Italy and is buried in the Florence War Cemetery.

Isadore BRUDNEY

Isadore was born on 18 June 1913, son of Harris and Bella (nee Marks) Brudney. He lived in Palmerston Road and practiced as an optician. He joined the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in London and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. Isadore was killed on 11 January 1946 and is buried in the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery in Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany.

Daniel COHEN

Daniel Lionel Cohen was born in Southend in 1923. His parents were Reubin and Rebecca (nee Tuchman) Cohen. They moved to Forest Gate and continued to attend services both in Southend and Fieldgate Street synagogues. He joined the Queen’s Royal Regiment (West Surrey) and became a Lieutenant in the Infantry. Daniel died on 20 January 1944 and is buried at the Minturno War Cemetery in Lazio Italy.

Walter HEUMANN

Walter Heumann (born Kurt Heumann) was born abt. 1908. He was married to Dora Frankel and lived with other members of the Frankel family at 42 Queens Road. The family were involved in the production and selling of kosher meat products. Walter died as a civilian death at Jun 1949 at 16 Elmer Avenue Southend.

Marcus KRAMER

Marcus was born on 25 December 1911. He was the son of Emanuel and Rosie Kramer of 2&3 Marine Parade Southend who were fancy goods dealers. His younger sister Sylvia married Sidney Rosen, listed below. Marcus was a qualified chemist and practiced locally. He joined the RAF and became Flight Lieutenant. Marcus died on 21 May 1941 as part of the Battle of Britain. He posthumously received the DFC. He is buried at Runnymede Surrey.

David MINDEL

Samuel David Mindel (known as David Mindel) was born in 1919. His parents were Harry and Stella Mindel, and his paternal grandparents lived in Westcliff. He married Juliet Ida Hart just a few months before he was killed. David joined the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve and he died on 21 June 1943 on a bombing mission to Krefeld Germany.

Cyril NELSON

Louis Cyril Nelson was born on 19 May 1918 in Stamford Hill. His parents were Samuel Nelson and Katie Solomon. His parents were wholesale stationers. He was killed in the submarine ‘Traveller’ on active service. His name is listed on the Naval War Memorial at Plymouth.

Maurice NICHOLS

Maurice Nichols was born locally in 1916. He was the son of Samuel and bertha (nee Lipkin) of 30 Chancellor Road Southend. He joined the Essex Yeomanry Regiment, part of the Royal Horse Artillery. Maurice died at a forward observation post during withdrawal of the 8^th Army to El Alamein on 7 September 1942 and is buried at the El Alamein War Cemetery in Egypt.

Sidney I ROSEN

Sidney Isidore Rosen was born in 1913. He was the son of Diana and Henry Rosen of 1 Prittlewell Square. Sidney married Sylvia Kramer in 1940. He was posted to RAF Squadron 654 as Aircraftman 1^st Class. He was killed in action at sea over Sicily on 7 September 1943 and is buried in the Catania British Cemetery in Sicily.

Max SCHEDDLE

Max Scheddle was born on 17 February 1909 and married Joan Hammerson in 1936 in Hackney. They lived at 17 Cobham Road together with his parents Dora and Joseph Scheddle. Also, at the same address was Max’s sister Kitty and her husband Harry Weiss, the bandleader. Before the war Max worked as a commercial traveller. Max enlisted in the RAF and became a flight engineer. He died on 4 July 1943 and is buried in the Gent Westerbegraafplaats cemetery in the East Flanders area of Belgium.

Jack TRITT

Jack was born in Montreal Canada, the son of Gerald and Sarah Tritt. He enlisted in 1940 and became a Flight Sergeant in the Royal Canadian Air Force, working as a navigator bomber. Jack was one of six Canadian Airmen who died on 16 November 1942 when their aircraft crashed onto Canvey Island. He is buried at the War Graves Plot at Sutton Road Cemetery Southend on Sea.