Israeli Forum members hard work.

One of our forum members, Michal, who resides in Haifa, Israel has been diligently working with other like minded people, over a number of years, locating and renovating old and sometimes forgotten grave yards.

Pre war Palestinian Police Graves together with other Old non CWGC Soldiers graves have been located and where necessary new Headstones and memorials erected.

This all by a small group of dedicated Historians with a like mind, who decided that these men deserved not to be forgotten.

Over many months of dilligent enquiries, next of kin have been contacted and arrangements made to facilitate visits to various sites.

I have received an e-mail from Michael with the latest information of a ceremony that has been arranged to honour those not now forgotten.

This is the true meaning of "We shall not Forget".

Booklet attached.

the Nazareth Protestant Cemetery 17 October 2012





Ceremony of Re-dedication of the Graves of Three Constables of

the British Gendarmerie Section of the Palestine Police Force

Murdered in the Execution of their Duty 10 June 1923






IN REMEMBRANCE


Constable 790 Edward Davies


Died 10 June 1923, aged 20 years


Constable 466 John Albert Loydall


Died 10 June 1923, aged 35 years


Constable 539 Joseph Edward Purvis


Died 11 June 1923, aged 23 years



CEREMONY PROGRAM - 17 OCTOBER 2012 1100 - 1205

1100 - 1115 GATHERING IN THE GRAVEYARD

1115 - 1120 MICHAEL GOTTSCHALK – ORGANISER

1120 - 1125 RAMIZ JARAISY - THE MAYOR OF NAZARETH

1125 - 1130 ANTHONY RAE – PALESTINE POLICE OLD COMRADES ASSOC.

1130 - 1135 REV EMAD DIABES - PSALMS

1135 - 1145 WREATHS, FLOWERS, A MOMENT OF SILENCE. PICTURES

1150 - 1155 FLOWERS ON 2 OTHER PP GRAVES, GRIEVE AND GOODRIGHT

FREE SPEECH - TO ANYONE WANTING TO HONOR THE OCCASION

1205 END OF CEREMONY


IN REMEMBRANCE


Constable 1174 Douglas Campbell Grieve


Died 25 February 1935, aged 25 years


Constable 1220 Nevill Stephen Goodright


Died 9 November 1935, aged 28 years

Lost Graves of Murdered British Police found at Nazareth after 89 years

On 10 June 1923, three Constables of the British Gendarmerie Section of the Palestine Police were murdered on duty when their 11-man patrol, returning from escorting the British High Commissioner to Metullah, was ambushed by bandits near Lake Huleh.

Constables Edward Davies and John Loydall were shot dead and Constable Joseph Purvis died from wounds the next day; all were buried in the Protestant Cemetery at Nazareth. With most British Mandate police buried in war cemeteries, the few graves at Nazareth became abandoned and long forgotten. But fallen comrades were remembered by their friends and their friends’ children… to this day.

In 2011 Martin Higgins of the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association (PPOCA), whose father Michael served with the Gendarmerie, found a photo in his father’s albums of a funeral thought to be at Nazareth. He sent this to Dr Norbert Schwake and Michael Gottschalk, twofriends in Israel helping to keep and guard the history of this country for future generations.

Checks with the Anglican Christ Church in Nazareth found the officers’ burial records and a search in the cemetery then found the three graves - headstones broken. Now, with funding of £3,400 from the PPOCA and much hard work the site has been cleared and headstones renewed (as have those of two other constables who died off duty in 1935).

The re-dedication ceremony at the cemetery, organised by Michael Gottschalk, is held in the presence of local dignitaries, church leaders, historians and representatives of the Israeli Police and Commonwealth War Graves Commission, with a member of the PPOCA travelling from the UK.

Thus after 89 years, thanks this international brotherhood, we may once more honour the fallen British Policemen who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of both our countries and who lie here in Israel… so far from home… but not forgotten.



Ambush and Murder of three British Gendarmerie Constables


in Palestine in June 1923


Historic Background:

During the First World War British Forces took control of Palestine from the Turkish Ottoman Empire and in 1922 the security of the region became the responsibility of the British under League of Nations (later UN) Mandate. Local police were reinforced by a 760 strong British Gendarmerie, recruited mainly from the ranks of the Royal Irish Constabulary following the Irish War of Independence, which later became the British Section of the Palestine Police until formation of the State of Israel in 1948.

During this time more than 350 British police officers were killed or died whilst serving in Palestine and remain buried there, mostly in the larger war cemeteries. In 1923 Gendarmerie Constables Davies, Loydall and Purvis, became the first to be murdered in the execution of their duty, when their mobile patrol was ambushed by bandits. They were buried in the Protestant Cemetery in Nazareth where they were stationed, but after British withdrawal in 1948 their burial place became abandoned and forgotten.

Background to the Incident (The Palestine Weekly 22/6/1923):

On the 10th and 11th June 1923 the British High Commissioner of Palestine, His Excellency Sir Herbert Samuel, visited Metullah, the northern-most Jewish colony, and Banyas (Dan) prior to the transfer of the area from French Lebanon to British Palestine control. He was accompanied by his Aide-de-Camp, Captain R. F. Monckton; the French Liaison Officer at Jerusalem, Commandant de Maure-Pas; and the Commandant of the Northern District Palestine Police, Mr W. F. Sinclair.

Summary of Events (police reports and statements of those involved):

On the afternoon of Sunday 10th June 1923 12 members of No. 6 Company, British Gendarmerie, stationed at Nazareth, comprising a Sergeant and 10 Constables under the command of Lieutenant R. B. Parker, in two police vehicles, were detailed to escort the High Commissioner’s party from Rosh Pina to Metullah. At 1435 hours the BG escort was joined by the HC’s party in one car with an outrider (a second car having been delayed) and the whole group moved to Metullah arriving at 1700, when the HC’s security was handed over to the Palestine Gendarmerie.

At 1745 the BG escort left Metullah and waited at Jahalah for the HC’s cars to inform them to await the HC on the 14th at Nebi Yusha. One BG, Constable McCormick, then travelled on ahead with the HC’s cars, whilst the main BG party took a different route towards Rosh Pina.

The BG Escort now consisted of two Gendarmerie vehicles, a Ford Touring Car (No. P357G) containing Lt. Parker and Constables Davies, Golden (driver) and Loydall; and a Ford Tender (No. P398G) containing Sgt. McMahon and Constables Boland, Bunkall, Croy, Pope, Purvis and Silverwood.

About 1900 hours at Wadi Hindush (or Hindaj), near Ain-el Mellahah, North West of Lake Huleh; Lt. Parker who was in the leading car followed behind by the tender, saw 8 men in front acting suspiciously. He ordered his driver to stop, and got out, revolver drawn, to see what was happening, when they were immediately fired on from their front and side. He returned fire but the 3 constables in his car were all hit, Loydall was killed outright and Parker then ordered the two wounded constables to fall back to the Tender about 50 yards behind but as they did so Davies was hit again and mortally wounded.

Meanwhile the tender had also come under fire from both sides; Croy had been wounded and then became cut off from his colleagues and got lost in the confusion. Purvis had been hit twice and was fatally wounded. The remaining officers continued to engage their attackers for some 20 minutes when it began to get dark and fire slackened. Golden volunteered to retrieve the car which he did and all, except Croy who could not be found left the scene in the two vehicles.

They drove to the village of Yesod Hamaala to seek medical assistance. Additional medical help and police arrived during the night. Croy made his way back to Jahalah village and police were sent for and the next day all returned to Nazareth. The HC’s visit was terminated early his party returning on the 12th.

Four of the assailants were arrested on the 12th by French authorities near the Lebanon border in possession of Loydall’s rifle and under interrogation implicated a fifth man but denied any more were involved. They were identified as members of a notorious gang of Arab bandits who had been responsible for several attacks and murders on the Lebanon roads in recent months and had entered Palestine to escape the local Lebanon and Syrian police.

The BG escort thought there may have been as many as twenty or more attackers at the ambush, Parker stated he saw 8 in the road ahead and they were also fired on from the flanks. The Touring Car was found to have 16 bullet holes and the Tender 12, and their occupants received 8 gunshot wounds (all of which may suggest a larger number than 5 assailants).

The Dead Constables:

All were stationed with No. 6 Company of the British Gendarmerie section of the Palestine Police at Nazareth.


Constable Davies was killed at the scene and buried in Nazareth Cemetery with military honours on 11th June.
Constable 790 Edward Davies aged 20 years, was appointed to the Force on 28th April 1923. Edward, originally from Warwickshire, England, had been secretly married on joining (the Force only taking single men) and was survived by his wife and baby son, who received a police pension and child allowance; he was also survived by his mother and younger brother.


[The stones pictured here are remains of the original headstones which had sunk into the ground seen here after partial excavation.)
Constable 466 John Albert Loydall aged 35, was appointed 30th March 1922. John was a single man from Kent, England, his next of kin being his sister; he was a former labourer, soldier and permanent Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence from 1920 to 1922.


Constable Loydall was killed at the scene and buried in Nazareth Cemetery on 11th June with Constable Davies.




Constable Purvis died from his wounds about 12 noon 11th June in Yesod Hamaala village, and was buried in alongside his colleagues on 12th June.

Constable 539 Joseph Edward Purvis aged 23yrs, was appointed 31st March 1922. Joseph was a single man from Northumberland, England, his next of kin being his mother; he was a former surveyor, soldier and permanent Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence 1920 to 1922, during which he had been awarded the Constabulary Medal for gallantry.


Re-dedication of the graves:

Now nearly 90 years after their deaths, through the good work of members of the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association (PPOCA) and other historians and friends in the UK and Israel to properly record all the fallen officers and their memorials, the graves have been rediscovered and memorials renewed.



Remembering The Fallen – Lost Graves of British Police Officers in Israel

During the First World War British Allied Forces conquered Palestine after 400 years of domination by the Turkish Ottoman Empire. In this they were aided by an Arab revolt, led by British Major T. E. Lawrence of Arabia, but with an expectation of Arab independence in the region, whilst at the same time, British policy favoured the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people.

The government and security of the region was entrusted to the United Kingdom under League of Nations (now UN) Mandate until such time as it could be self-governing. Into this contradictory and often naturally and politically hostile environment came hundreds of British police officers; by the end of the Mandate in 1948 thousands had served and hundreds had fallen, alongside their Arab and Jewish colleagues, whilst helping to keep the peace in a foreign land from which they did not return.

On the evening of 10 June 1923 three Constables of the British Gendarmerie Section of the Palestine Police became the first to be murdered on duty when their party of 11 police, returning from escorting the British High Commissioner to Metullah, were ambushed by a gang of Arab bandits near Lake Huleh.

In the exchange of fire that followed their two police vehicles were hit by no less than 28 shots and five constables were wounded, three of them fatally, before darkness fell. The police sought medical help at the village of Yesod Hamaala, but two of the wounded were already dead and a third died there the following morning before an ambulance could arrive to evacuate them.

Constables Edward Davies, aged 20, and John Albert Loydall, 35, were buried on the 11th and Joseph Edward Purvis, 23, the next day in the English Protestant Cemetery at Nazareth, where they were based. Davies left a wife a child, the other two were single and both former soldiers and constables in the Royal Irish Constabulary, where Purvis had been awarded the Constabulary Medal for Gallantry.

Whilst most police were buried in larger cemeteries, the few graves at Nazareth became abandoned and long forgotten; but their dead were remembered by their friends and their friends’ children… to this day.

In 2011 Martin Higgins, a member of the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association (PPOCA) whose father Michael had joined the Gendarmerie in 1922 and retired as a Palestine Police Inspector in 1947, found a photo in his father’s albums of an unknown Gendarmerie funeral. He sent this to Dr. Norbert Schwake and Michael Gottschalk, twofriends in Israel who carry out missions to help keep and guard the history of this country for future generations, and who thought it may be at Nazareth.

Checks with the Reverend Emad Daibes of the Anglican Christ Church in Nazareth found the names of Davies, Loydall and Purvis in their burial records. A search in the cemetery then found the three graves, headstones abandoned, broken and sunk into the soil. With funding of £3,400 from the PPOCA and hard work from Dr. Schwake and Mr Gottschalk the site was cleared and the headstones renewed (together with those of two other Constables, Grieve and Goodright, who both died off duty in 1935).

On the 17th October there was a ceremony of re-dedication at the cemetery organised by Michael Gottschalk, with his colleagues Dr Norbert Schwake and Michael Robson, in the presence of the Mayor of Nazareth Mr Ramiz Jaraisy, the Reverend Emad Diabes, Mr Paul Price head of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Israel, Jordan and Cyprus, and representatives from the British Embassy, Israeli Police, and local historians and others. The PPOCA will be represented by Anthony Rae, a retired British Police Sergeant and founder of the UK’s National Police Officers Roll of Honour.

Thus after 89 years, thanks this international brotherhood, there has been a second ceremony in the Nazareth graveyard to honour the fallen British Policemen who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of both countries and who lie here in Israel… so far from home… but not forgotten. Yet, sadly, many others are forgotten both by the Government that sent them there and the Country for which they died.

The very first to die was Captain James Wesley Mackenzie, District Commandant of Police for Nazareth and Galilee, who drowned in a gallant attempt to rescue an Arab Inspector who fell into the River Jordan whilst on a mounted patrol on 15 April 1922. From then until the end of the Mandate in 1948 over 350 British police officers lost their lives and here, in Israel, they remain.

Of these some 200 died during the Second World War and up to 31st December 1947, a period falling within the remit of the UK’s Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which cares for those graves, but not the graves of those who died between the wars or after this period; (which besides the British police officers also includes the many British soldiers or the very many Arab and Jewish members of the Palestine Police who also gave their lives for their country during the Mandate.)

Most of the other 150 British police dead also lie in the War Cemeteries or the larger civil cemeteries of Jerusalem, Haifa and Ramla, where they can at least be kept an eye on by the CWGC. Unfortunately this is not always the case for the smaller graveyards, like Nazareth, where some graves remain abandoned or still lost and where it has been left to a few caring individuals to save as many as they can…

In the past Palestine Police graveyards in Israel were very neglected, and it is only in the last 3 years that things have begun to change. The CWGC is limited by what it can do for the Palestine Police cemeteries and graves, citing their default definition of “war graves” and “non war graves”.

Now thanks to volunteers out here, such as Michael Gottschalk, Michael Robson and Norbert Schwake, who care passionately for this country’s history and on a daily basis are keeping an eye things, cleaning up graveyards and replacing headstones etc. to slowly improve matters felt too important to overlook.

Two years the Headstone of Briton George Sykes, killed during Arab rioting on 23rd August 1929, was replaced in the Haifa Jaffa Road Cemetery, and this year the Memorial in Jaffa Road for 9 Royal Artillery soldiers, who drowned crossing the River Jordan in 1922 was replaced, - it took 6 years.

Now the Cemetery in Nazareth has been cleaned up by this group of friends who every year receive families from the UK, sons and daughters of Palestine Policemen buried out here, and escort them to the Cemeteries. They serve as the guardians of our history trying to find a concrete solution for the future generations and live in hope that those with the power to do more in the UK and Israel may one day be able to help them preserve the memory of those who had no interest in the prevailing politics but only of keeping the peace in this land of ours.




Constable Michael Higgins joined the Gendarmerie with the three murdered officers; he served for 25 years retiring from the Palestine Police in 1947.

His son Martin found the funeral photo (see cover) in his father’s album

subsequently leading to the discovery of the lost graves.








Graves Renewed by the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association

www.ppoca.org






Supported by the Police History Society

Police History Society. From Peel to modern day policing

Regards
Tom

PS. Apologies that I could not transfer the format of the booklet correctly, but I hope that you can picture this as a twelve page booklet.

 

Tom
Thank you for the post, and Michal for his outstaning work, my uncle was in the Palastine Police Force before and during the war and it is nice they are remembered

 

Interesting story, and very commendable work.

 

Michal excellent work, thank you

Tom thank you for posting

regards
Clive

 

Thanks for sharing this Tom and congratulations to Michal for some excellent work well done all involved.

Regards Michael.

 

Fascinating post, I have been interested in this area of history since reading Wingate's biographies.

There was a certain irony in the aftermath of operation Longcloth with Wingate's obvious involvement with the fledgling Israeli state, whilst at the same time several of his senior officers from 1943 joining the Arab Legion, one of whom became 'Pasha' in the early 1950's.

 

There was a certain irony in the aftermath of operation Longcloth with Wingate's obvious involvement with the fledgling Israeli state, whilst at the same time several of his senior officers from 1943 joining the Arab Legion, one of whom became 'Pasha' in the early 1950's.

Mate, who was it? I always thought only John Glubb made it to that "rank".

 

Mate, who was it? I always thought only John Glubb made it to that "rank".

It was Major-General Sydney Arthur Cooke, who took over command of the 1st Division in 1951. He was commander of Northern Group HQ on Longcloth in 1943, a former Lincolns regiment officer.

And now Warlord the gateway is open for your landmark post as a reply.

 

I have just reeived this photograph of Michael taken yesterday with Philip Stack, the British Military Attache in Israel.

Incidentally Michael and his friends also search for WW2 Defence trenches etc and renovate them so that they are not lost forever.

Regards
Tom

 

It was Major-General Sydney Arthur Cooke, who took over command of the 1st Division in 1951. He was commander of Northern Group HQ on Longcloth in 1943, a former Lincolns regiment officer.

And now Warlord the gateway is open for your landmark post as a reply.

Well, soccer referee style, VP took several posts from me when he reshuffled all the counters a while ago, but, then again, I guess it's a fitting date for my new 1000th

Now, back to our subject: He took command of the Arab Legion after Norman Lash, senior aide to Glubb, who was considered more a politician than a soldier; does he fit in the same category?

Some british officers even thought of this lot as "Soldiers of fortune of British nationality" (sentence courtesy of Wikipedia )

 

I have just received more photographs of the Ceremony and it now appears that Michael has been made an honoury Police Sergeant as he was presented with a Tunic and Helmet

I must ask Michael for the identity of the British Police Sergeant, who appears to be wearing a Lancashire Constabulary Uniform.

Regards
Tom

 

Excellent Tom thanks for sharing
I am really enjoying this thread

Regards Michael.

 

Excellent work. Thank you for sharing it.

Please make sure to ask Michal to take some pictures of some of the great Sherman conversions they have there in various museums, especially the armored ambulances.

Dave

 

Thanks for sharing this Tom and congratulations to Michal for some excellent work well done all involved.

Regards Michael.

Well done Mike!

The police graves at Khayat Beach are all in a terrible condition - and not a single flower amongst them.

Managed to photograph most - if not all - of them when I was there about 3 years ago. Along with photos of police plaques at Ramleh cemetery, have been sharing these images with interested parties since then.

Just who is responsible for their care and maintenance???

Bucklt

 

Bucklt,

With regards to Just who is responsible for their care and maintenance???


That is the question!

Michael has spent hours contacting Various organisations and most of the time these graves are not covered by the CWGC, hence the falling into neglect.

I know that local donations raised by Michael and his friends, together with the Palestinian Police Association have been responsible for putting quite a few Grave stones and Monuments back in position.

Regards
Tom

 

On behalf of the family of the late Nevile Goodright (Palestine Police) we are extremely grateful to Micheal and all those of the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association in caring for and maintaining the headstones and plaques in Israel. We were aware that his grave was `lost` and it is very pleasing to see that he will be remembered and is now commemorated with a new headstone. Photo of Nevile attached.

 

a fascinating story and fantastic dedication!

 

On behalf of the family of the late Nevile Goodright (Palestine Police) we are extremely grateful to Micheal and all those of the Palestine Police Old Comrades Association in caring for and maintaining the headstones and plaques in Israel. We were aware that his grave was `lost` and it is very pleasing to see that he will be remembered and is now commemorated with a new headstone. Photo of Nevile attached.

Stuart,

I was pleased to be of help in regards to putting you in touch with Michael.

Thank you for sharing the photograph on the forum.

Regards
Tom

 

Tom

Many thanks for an excellent story and some cracking photos.

With much respect and thanks to all concerned for their unselfish work on this project.

Ron

 

I have received today the attached photograph of Michael at a presentation ceremony taken at the recent AGM of the Palestine Police Association in the midlands.

Michael is now an Honourary Member of the Association.

It was most certainly a great pleasure and honour to meet Michael and spend a day with him during my Easter trip to the Holyland.



Regards
Tom