Lives of the First World War

The Zion Mule Corps was a volunteer body formed in March 1915 in Alexandria from mainly Russian Jewish emigres (who could not be directly enlisted in the British Army). It played an imporant role in getting supplies up to the front lines at Gallipoli, but was disbanded in May 1916. Veterans of the Mule Corps served in the 20th Londons until the formation of the 38th "Judean" Battalion, Royal Fusiliers in August 1917. In 1918 the 39th RF was raised in Nova Scotia from American and Canadian Jews, and the 40th in Palestine from mainly Ottoman Jews. The 41st and 42nd Battalions were Depot Battalions based in Plymouth. The three Service Battalions took part in the fighting in the Jordan Valley and the Battle of Megiddo in 1918, becoming known as the Jewish Legion. Although the soldiers of all five battalions were demobilised soon after November 1918, many of them remained in Palestine to pursue their Zionist hopes, and the First Judaeans continued as a unit with its own distinctive Menorah capbadge.

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