Identifer: CJF-RFC2015336

Medium
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Description
The Jewish Legion Medal was issued in 1967 to commemorate the 1917-1967 Jubilee of the “First Judeans,” a fighting unit of the British Expeditionary Force, which became in August 1917, the 38th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers.  The Jewish Legion was made up of a thousand volunteer Palestinian Jews that took full combatant part in the expulsion of the Turkish troops from Palestine by General Allenby’s victorious army.
 
            The 38th battalion was joined by a 39th battalion recruited in the United States.  There was a final reinforcement of this remarkable Jewish contribution to the Allied forces in the raising of a 40th battalion.  This third unit was made up of Jewish volunteers of the Yishuv.  When the hostilities ended, the battalions were merged into a formation under the proud title of the “First Judeans”: its commanding officer was Colonel Eliezer Margolin of the 40th battalion.
 
            The British Mandate in Palestine led to the disbandment of the First Judeans.  This led to the beginnings and tradition of the Hagana, the Jewish Brigade in the Second World War, and today, the Defense Forces of Israel.

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