Beaumont-Hamel

[paullaw1155]

Pals

On my last visit in may this year we visited Beaumont Hamel cemetery. A rededicatin service was going to take place later that morning ( Time was against us attending) . The service was for a Pvt H Steinberg killed December 1916 24046

His grave had the star of David imprinted on it. I beleive (but not sure) that he was not of the Jewish faith hence the rededication service.

Or was the gravestone that I saw the new one, and the star of David was correct??

Making notes for my Dvd footage,Can anyone tell me if my account is accurate and how they discovered what is religion was.

Cheers and thanks in anticipation

Paul

[Paul Reed]

I think the case is that his headstone had a cross on it, and someone discovered he was Jewish, so CWGC changed the headstone and those involved organised a service. That's about all I know.

[Alan_J]

I didn't know about the rededication or the change to the Star of David, but by pure coincidence I happened to take a picture of his grave when I was at Beaumont Hamel in October.

Alan

[Alan_J]

I found some more infromation on this on the web - see page here, towards the bottom.

The wreath in my picture looks to be the same as that laid by AJEX (or perhaps another laid later).

Alan

[Paul Reed]

Thanks Alan - quite a curious tale. They don't mention any evidence to say whether he was Jewish or not. I will check and see if he is in the 'British Book of Jewry', but then that is also not a definative list.

[Paul Reed]

Can't find him in that source; wonder if CWGC will know what evidence showed he was Jewish?

[Alan_J]

One for Terry Denham perhaps?

It is odd, especailly as no NOK were involved, given some recent threads about CWGC needeing substantive evidence to make changes...

Alan

[gericht 1914]

wonder if CWGC will know what evidence showed he was Jewish?

I know it can't be regarded as conclusive, but the surname itself is a pretty reasonable bet of Jewish blood, I'd have thought!!!

Dave. (and there's another!!! )

[SPotter]

I've noticed the habit of placing stones on the headstone of a Jewish soldier in WWII cemeteries. Can anyone explain what this custom was?

Thanks

Steve

[Jack Sheldon]

There are several explanations in circulation. Perhaps we need a real expert to disentangle them. In practice there are said to be three modern reasons for placing stones:

1. You are not forgotten

2. I have visited your grave

3. I have added to your monument

It is thought that the custom may date back to biblical times, when it was usual to cover burials with a mound of stones, but another possibility is that messages to the deceased were written, folded or rolled and placed in a crevice in the headstone - rather like the custom at the Wailing Wall. If there were no crevices, or they were already full, the message might be weighted down with a stone. Eventually the material would rot away, leaving only the stone, Gradually the site of headstones with stones became common place and was copied - less the messages.

Take your pick, or suggest something else!

Jack

[SPotter]

Thanks Jack,

I like the sentiment behind your reasons.

Logic seems to agree with your rationale re origins as it is only Jewish graves I have seen this. The Christian version presumably being the leaving of flowers.

Thanks

Steve