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HURWITZ, Samuel Moses
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/genealogy227
- Collection
- Canadian Jewish Congress organizational records
- Material Type
- textual record
- graphic material
- Archival / Genealogical
- Genealogy Records
- Material Type
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date of Birth
- January 28, 1919
- Date of Death
- October 26, 1944
- Place of Burial
- Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
- Cemetery
- Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery
- Age at Time of Death
- 25
- Enlistment No.
- D-26248
- Rank
- Sergeant
- Unit
- Canadian Grenadier Guards
- Notes
- Sergeant Samuel Hurwitz of Montreal, Quebec, died of wounds while a prisoner of war (Casualty list No. 845). He was awarded the Military Medal according to a Department of National Defence announcement on November 3, 1944. The citation accompanying the M.M. read: “On Aug. 8, 1944, during the heavy fighting Sgt. Hurwitz, Can. Armoured Corps was ordered to cover by fire his troop leaders’ assault on an enemy position. On arriving at the position it was found necessary to dismount and attack on foot. During the fight a burning enemy self-propelled gun blew up and killed and wounded a number of men of the troop. Sgt. Hurwitz was pinned under a tree by the explosion, but managed to extricate himself and although burned from the blast and slightly wounded he picked up a Bren gun and with his officer led the assault on the German position. The position, which was a strong one and had been holding up the entire squadron was taken, 31 prisoners were captured and a number of the enemy killed. Sgt. Hurwitz displayed a fine degree of leadership and offensive spirit and by this action was largely responsible for the subsequent capture of the town of Cintheaux itself.” On January 11, 1945, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and became the first Canadian Jew to receive two decorations in World War II. The citation with the DCM stated: “On Sept. 20, 1944, No. 3 Squadron, 22 Can. Armoured Reg. with one rifle company and the carrier scout platoon of the Algonquin Reg. under command, was ordered to seize and hold the railroad station at Sluiskil. A force made up of one infantry platoon, one section of three carriers and the tank troop commanded to assault an intermediate strong point which consisted of slit trenches, ditches, and a number of houses on the road to the station. Upon reaching the objective the enemy were found to be in strength and a fierce close-quarter combat ensued in deep ditches and houses where the tanks could not be used to advantage. Sgt. Hurwitz quickly appreciated that more men were needed on the ground and leaped from his tank, taking with him two crew members. Under covering fire from his tank, Sgt. Hurwitz and two men with him cleared three buildings and two elaborate trench systems. Sgt Hurwitz then personally charged two machine gun posts. His only weapon was a pistol but his daring and determination unnerved the machine gun crews and the positions were silenced. A total of twenty-five prisoners were taken by him and his crew. This determined and gallant action by Sgt. Hurwitz enabled his troop to move into a dominating fire position which covered the objective of the main force and enabled it to move forward and seize the railroad station where an additional 150 prisoners were taken and a large amount of valuable equipment captured.” His father, Harry Hurwitz, received the decorations from the Earl of Athlone at Government House. He was a member of the Montreal YMHA.
- Subjects
- World War II
- Record Source
- Canadian Jewish Military Casualties
- Fonds No.
- CJC0001
- Archival / Genealogical
- Genealogy Records
- Repository
- Canadian Jewish Archives
Images
VANULAR, (John) Henry
https://www.cjhn.ca/link/genealogy532
- Collection
- Canadian Jewish Congress organizational records
- Material Type
- textual record
- graphic material
- Archival / Genealogical
- Genealogy Records
- Material Type
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date of Birth
- 1916
- Date of Death
- May 11, 1945
- Place of Burial
- Noord-Brabant, Netherlands
- Cemetery
- Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery
- Enlistment No.
- J-26359
- Rank
- Flying Officer
- Unit
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- Notes
- Flying Officer John Henry Vanular of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was killed overseas. He enlisted in the air force and received his commission on graduation from No. 7 Air Observers School at Portage la Prairie in June 1943. He went overseas in the same year.
- Subjects
- World War II
- Record Source
- Canadian Jewish Military Casualties
- Fonds No.
- CJC0001
- Archival / Genealogical
- Genealogy Records
- Repository
- Canadian Jewish Archives
Images
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