Jewish Soldiers and Prejudice in the Army

[Rum Ration]

How much prejudice did Jewish soldiers experience in the AIF and CEF? Were there any other General officers like Monash of the AIF?

[michaeldr]

Monash's opponents appear to have been in the Australian press rather than in the army

"...he (Murdoch) attempted to negotiate with Field Marshal Haig, and with Bean urged the replacement as Australian commander of General Sir William Birdwood by Major General (Sir) Brudenell White, while belittling Major General (Sir) John Monash. The corps was formed, but in May 1918 Monash was given its command while Birdwood remained general officer commanding. Bean, Murdoch and others attempted to persuade Hughes to give White the corps and make Monash G.O.C., distracting the Australian higher commanders during the most vital period of the war. On 6 June Murdoch explicitly put the 'offer' to Monash, flattering him, suggesting promotion to general as G.O.C., reminding him that his cables went to 250 newspapers. Birdwood and Monash, however, were not to be bullied or bribed and launched a counter-offensive which demonstrated that Bean and Murdoch almost totally lacked support from the A.I.F. Murdoch continued to nag Hughes through July, but the prime minister told him he had found no one who agreed with him. The successful battle of Hamel and the August offensive closed the question. Late in the year Murdoch, again unsuccessfully, tried to persuade Hughes that White, not Monash, should control repatriation."

[from http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/murdoch-sir-keith-arthur-7693]

 

Lt Col J H Patterson's book 'With the Judeans in the Palestine Campaign' provides insights into the army's treatment of the Jewish Battalions, and by the EEF Staff in particular

Edited 5 January , 2019 by michaeldr

[DavidOwen]

A couple of general articles on the subject (one is broader the other Australian centred), neither give a great deal of detail but it seems that the Jews came in for some stick whichever side they fought for:

 

https://www.geni.com/projects/Jewish-Soldiers-in-World-War-I-1914-1918/5453

http://www.jewishaustralia.com/?Page=aust-jewish-anzacs

 

Haven't yet found any corresponding Canadian article.

 

Regards

 

DAvid