We Were There Too believe that children and young people should still have an opportunity to experience and participate in a meaningful School Remembrance Assembly, despite the challenges we are all facing in 2020.

For the last few years British Jews in the First World War We Were There Too has had the privilege of leading Remembrance Assemblies in primary and secondary schools in London and Greater Manchester. We have been working hard to continue this whilst being unable to visit schools in person.

Working with Discovery Education the We Were There Too team of staff and volunteers have produced a suite of digital interactive Remembrance Assemblies for both primary and secondary schools. Using the same technology, we have also produced Community Remembrance presentations, for use in synagogues, residential homes, youth groups etc., or even individuals or families, which can be personalised to meet the needs of large or small communities.

Go to the brand new Remembrance section of our website to find out more about how you can use any of these free resources for your Remembrance service this November. If you have any questions please email contactus@jewsfww.uk and one of the team will be able to help! 

On 11th November 1920, the Cenotaph in London was revealed as part of the Armistice Day service, along with the burial of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. This was a way to honour all of the ordinary personnel who had lost their lives in the First World War. It is our aim to put a name and story to these ordinary men and women who were part of the British Jewish community and gave their lives for their country. 

Here are just a few of these names to remember particularly at this time of year, whose stories are available to read any time on our site jewsfww.uk. 

It was very common for multiple members of the same family to be serving in the Armed Forces, especially after the introduction of conscription in 1916, but for the Cossack family from Manchester, this brought extra heartache as they lost three brothers: Marks, Hyman and Solomon. 

Marks Cossack (left) enlisted into the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in August 1914. He embarked on the HMHS Braemar Castle at Avonmouth in June 1915 bound for Gallipoli. Unfortunately just two months later on 9th August 1915, Marks was reported missing, presumed dead. He was just 20 years old.

Hyman Cossack (right) was a year younger than his brother Marks, and enlisted with the Lancashire Fusiliers. He was killed in action at the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium on 9th October 1917. He was 21 years old.

Solomon Cossack, known as Solly, was the elder of the three brothers, and was a Sergeant in the Labour Corps attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers. Solly served in France between December 1916 and March 1919. He died in 1920 at home in Manchester, and is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Manchester Polish Jews Cemetery in Urmston. He was 29 years old.

Finally, whilst the 11th November 1918 was a day of celebration for many, on our site we recognise Isaac Cohen, who lost his life on this day, and is buried in a Commonwealth War Grave in Cardiff Jewish Cemetery. Isaac was a Private in the Cheshire Regiment, and died at the age of just 28. 

WWTT and AJEX historian Paula Kitching will soon be doing a talk entitled "The Unknown Soldier – 100 years of being a part of something". 100 years ago Issy Smith VC stood as part of the guard of honour when the Unknown Soldier’s coffin was taken into Westminster Abbey – and that was important for Britain’s Jews. In this talk Paula Kitching will address the importance of the Unknown Soldier and Issy Smith’s presence in an official capacity on the day of the internment. Keep an eye on our social media (@jewsfww) and the AJEX Youtube channel to find out when and where.