Anonymous Soldiers

by Bruce Hoffman

  58. Gray to Gurney, letter, June 24, 1947.

  59. Farran, 7th ed. (Jan. 1950); Cesarani (2009), 187; Goodman, “Acharei 57 Shanaim”; Clutterbuck, “Bertrand Stewart Prize Essay, 1960,” 167, cited in Charters (1979), 58–59, 60n26; Mitchell (1969), 61–62.

  60. Interview, Richard Clutterbuck with the author, Exeter, England, March 1979; Mitchell (1969), 61–62; Farran (2009), 351.

  61. Bethell (1979), 303; Paget (1967), 167, 174.

  62. Montgomery Diary, pt. 8, tour no. 3, chap. 51, “Palestine, June 21–August 8, 1947,” BLM 181/1, Montgomery Papers.

  63. Charters (1979), 57.

  64. Blaxland (1971), 47; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, June 25, 1947; MacMillan, “Palestine: Narrative of Events”; Meyerson to Cunningham, letter, June 23, 1947.

  65. Fergusson (2009), 240; Times, Nov. 29, 1980.

  66. Twiston Davies (2006); Kemp (1994), 19.

  67. Laurence Collins and Fearnley-Whittingstall to Creech Jones, letter, Dec. 5, 1947, NA, CO 537/2302; R. H. Cowell Parker, affidavit, Oct. 27, 1947, NA, CO 537/2302; Laurence Collins et al. to Judge Advocate General, Nov. 6, 1947, NA, CO 537/2302; Fox-Strangways to Laurence Collins et al., letter, Nov. 15, 1947, NA, CO 537/2302; Creech Jones to Cunningham, telegram, Dec. 22, 1947, NA, CO 537/2302; Creech Jones to Cunningham, telegram, Feb. 2, 1947, NA, CO 537/3872; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegrams, Feb. 9 and April 24, 1947, NA, CO 537/3872.

  68. Avner (1959), 21–22; New York Times, Sept. 18, 1947, and May 4, 1948; Evening News, Oct. 16, 1947; clippings from Daily Express, Daily Herald, Daily Graphic, and Daily Mail, Oct. 31, 1947, NA, HO 45/21445; Outrages, 1947–48, Letter Bombs, Letter to J. S. Skelton (Home Office Section), May 12, 1948, and photographs, NA, EF 5/12; Times, May 4, 1948; Melman, “Heruti Code”; Cesarani (2009), 183–84, 192–93, 201–2; Goodman, “Acharei 57 Shanaim.”

  69. Baxter to Smith, letter, Feb. 25, 1947, NA, FO 371/61872; García-Granados (1948), 170; Smith to Lloyd, minute, May 23, 1947, NA, CO 537/2283; O’Sullivan Diary, March 18, 1947, 71.

  70. Dempsey to Montgomery, telegram, May 20, 1947, NA, CO 537/2283; Bell (1977), 286–87; Niv (1975), 5:302–3; Shamir (1994), 63–69; Baxter to Smith, letter, Feb. 25, 1947.

  71. E. M. Fitzgerald to Mathieson, minute, May 8, 1947, NA, CO 537/2283.

  72. Edith Weiss to Trygve Lie (UN secretary-general), letter, June 30, 1947, NA, FO 371/61781; Begin (1977a), 283–86; Gurion (1950), 149–50; Lapidot, “Haviv Avshalom”; Lapidot, “Meir Nakar”; Lapidot, “Yaakov Weiss”; García-Granados (1948), 50–52; Palestine Post, June 17 and 18, 1947; Samuel Katz (1968), 159.

  73. Voice of Fighting Zion, April 23, 1947, K-4 7/15, JI; First Armored Division, Intelligence Summary 1, June 15, 1947, NA, WO 261/650; HQ South Palestine District (Sarafand), Internal Security, June 2, 1947, NA, WO 261/172.

  74. Begin (1977a), 283–84; telegrams 85 and 86, June 10, 1947, in Tauber (2012), 113–15; Tavin and Alexander (1982), 171.

  75. Third Parachute Brigade, Operational Instruction 39, June 14, 1947, NA, WO 275/223; Montgomery, “Palestine, June 21–August 8, 1947.”

  76. First Armored Division, Intelligence Summary 2, July 2, 1947, NA, WO 261/650; Times, May 5, 1947; Niv (1975), 5:163–69; Background of the Struggle for the Liberation of Eretz Israel (1947), 14–19; DSO, Palestine, to SIME, telegram, July 29, 1947, NA, KV 5/38.

  77. Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, July 9, 1947, NA, FCO 141/14284; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram 89, June 19, 1947, in Tauber (2012), 115–16; Begin (1977a), 291–94; Bell (1977), 222–23; Brutton (1996), 98–99; García-Granados (1948), 118; Wilson (1949), 131.

  78. Times, May 5, 1947; García-Granados (1948), 118–19; Samuel Katz (1968), 163; Niv (1975), 5:165–67; Montgomery, “Palestine, June 21–August 8, 1947”; Montgomery to Bellenger, letter, June 27, 1947, BLM 181/9, Montgomery Papers.

  79. Montgomery, “Palestine June 21–August 8, 1947”; MacMillan, “Appreciation by GOC, Palestine on August 5, 1947.”

  80. Background of the Struggle for the Liberation of Eretz Israel (1947), 14–19; Niv (1975), 5:169–76; Michael J. Cohen (1982), 243.

  81. Brigadier J. C. Bedford-Roberts, Broadcast to Be Given on May 12, 1947, Keating Papers, IWM; Eighth Infantry Brigade, Intelligence Summary 5, May 25, 1947, NA, WO 261/682; Lieutenant Colonel C. R. W. Norman to Major E. Sacharov, letter, June 27, 1947, S 25/6908, CZA.

  82. Barker to Antonius, July 6 and Oct. 8, 1947, P/867, ISA.

  83. Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, June 13, 1947.

  CHAPTER 19: DRUNK WITH THE HANGMAN’S BLOOD

  1. Louis (1984), 467; García-Granados (1948), 32; Marton (1994), 109.

  2. Bullock (1983), 446; Michael J. Cohen (1982), 260–61, 265; Harris (1982), 397.

  3. Samuel Katz (1968), 159; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegrams, June 11 and July 9, 1947, NA, FCO 141/14284; García-Granados (1948), 38–44; Palestine Post, June 17, 1947.

  4. García-Granados (1948), 44–46.

  5. Louis (1984), 468; García-Granados (1948), 58–59.

  6. García-Granados (1948), 53–62; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, July 5, 1947, NA, FCO 141/14284; Times and Palestine Post, July 2, 1947; Begin (1977a), 286–87; Niv (1975), 5:374.

  7. García-Granados (1948), 192–93.

  8. Begin (1977a), 294–302; Samuel Katz (1968), 160–61; Niv (1975), 5:370–79; Report of Conference Between Representatives of the UNSCOP and the Commander and Two Other Representatives of the Irgun Zvai Leumi, June 24, 1947, LXIX/2, Jerusalem and the Middle East Papers.

  9. Report of Conference, June 24, 1947; Pinkerton to Hull, letter, Sept. 23, 1944, RG 226, OSS 99327, NARA; Shaw to Stanley, telegram, Sept. 29, 1944; PICME Intelligence Summary 12, Oct. 3, 1944, NA, WO 169/15703; Shaw to Stanley, letter, Oct. 12, 1944, NA, CO 733/461 75872/18A; “To Our Arab Neighbours,” July 1947, G13.089, CZA, in Irgun Zvai Leumi, The Hebrew Struggle for National Liberation: A Selection of Documents on Its Background and on Events Punctuating Its Course (n.d.); Begin (1977a), 49–50; Sixth Airborne Division, Intelligence Summary 42, May 14, 1947, app. E, and 44, May 30, 1947, NA, WO 275/60.

  10. García-Granados (1948), 152–56; Begin (1977a), 304–7; Samuel Katz (1968), 162–63; Niv (1975), 5:380–82.

  11. Department of Public Information, United Nations, “Background Story on Palestine Report,” Aug. 31, 1947, http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/2D17B10E29EBCB4B85256A76006DD2DA; Jewish Agency for Palestine (1947); Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, July 13, 1947, NA, FCO 141/14284; García-Granados (1948), 182–88; Niv (1975), 5:376–78; Louis (1984), 470–71.

  12. Louis (1986), 21; Debates, House of Commons, vol. 439, cols. 958–66, June 30, 1947; Times, June 30, 1947; Peter Clarke (2008), 489, 501; Schenk (2010), 61–62.

  13. Debates, House of Commons, vol. 439, col. 959, June 30, 1947; Times, March 4, 1947; Daily Telegraph, March 6, 1947; Creech Jones to Cunningham, telegram, June 25, 1947, NA, FO 371/61932 (there were 74,400 “operational troops” deployed to Palestine, of whom 32,000 were “administrative”; see Charters [1989], 88, 145–48); minutes of the conversation between Gurney and Horowitz, May 27, 1947, S 25/28, CZA.

  14. Charters (1989), 196; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, April 26, 1947, NA, CO 537/2279; CP (47) 161, May 18, 1947, NA, CAB 129/19; supplementary memorandum by the government of Palestine, including notes on evidence given to UNSCOP, July 12, 1947, 56, Keating Papers, IWM; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, April 28, 1947; CM 48 (47) May 20, 1947, NA, CAB 128/9.

  15. Palestine Post, July 4, 1947; Fighters for the Freedom of Israel; 80th Cong., 1st sess., H.J. Resolution 237 (Rep. Andrew Somers), July 11, 1947, NA, CO 537/2313; minutes, May 3–5, 1947, NA, FO 371/61753; Baxter to HM Consul General, New York, letter, June 3, 1947, NA, FO 371/61753; Louis (1984), 464.

  16. Palestine Post, July 9, 1947; Samuel Katz (1968), 164; García-Granados (1948), 54–55.

  17. Barker to Antonius, May 4 and June 11 and 19, 1947, P/867, ISA; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, July 9, 1947; telegrams
92, 94, and 96, June 23, 26, and 30, 1947, in Tauber (2012), 118–21; Samuel Katz (1968), 163–64.

  18. 1 Guard Brigade Report on Operation Tiger, Sept. 1947, NA, WO 261/667.

  19. O’Sullivan, “Abduction of Sergeant Paice and Sergeant Martin by Jewish Terrorists at Nathanya, July 1947,” Aug. 30, 1947, O’Sullivan Papers; Ofer Aderet, “The ‘Cruel Revenge’ That Helped Drive the British out of Palestine,” Ha’aretz, Aug. 7, 2012, http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/the-cruel-revenge-that-helped-drive-the-british-out-of-palestine-1.456440; telegram 97, July 12, 1947, in Tauber (2012), 121–22. O’Sullivan, “Abduction”; Palestine Post, July 13, 1947.

  20. CP (47) 208, July 19, 1947, NA, CAB 129/20; O’Sullivan, “Abduction”; Palestine Post, July 13 and 14, 1947; PALCOR News Agency, July 16, 1947, NA, CO 537/2299.

  21. O’Sullivan, “Abduction”; PALCOR News Agency, July 16, 1947; Palestine Post, July 13 and 14, 1947; Niv (1975), 5:162; García-Granados (1948), 141; Wilson (1949), 132; Bell (1977), 228.

  22. Bell (1977), 227–28; O’Sullivan, “Abduction”; Niv (1975), 5:277; Tauber (2012), 121–22n1.

  23. CP (47) 208, July 19, 1947, NA, CAB 129/20; Palestine Post, July 15, 18, and 28, 1947; Wilson (1949), 132.

  24. O’Sullivan, Annual Report for J2 Section, 1947; Palestine Post, July 17, 1947; telegram 99, July 17, 1947, in Tauber (2012), 122; Voice of Fighting Zion, July 16, 1947, K-4 7/15, JI.

  25. Tauber (2012), 87–120; O’Sullivan, Annual Report for J2 Section, 1947; Charters (1989), 196; David John Clark (1978), 243; Palestine Post, July 29, 1947.

  26. Palestine Post, July 30, 1947; Begin (1977a), 289; Gurion (1950), 187–89; Rose (2009), 162.

  27. Palestine Post, July 29 and 30, 1947; Gurion (1950), 189–90; O’Sullivan, “Abduction”; New York Times, Aug. 1, 1947.

  28. Debates, House of Commons, vol. 441, col. 635 (Creech Jones), July 31, 1947; O’Sullivan, “Abduction”; Times, New York Times, and Manchester Guardian, Aug. 1, 1947; Brutton (1996), 101–2; Niv (1975), 5:278–79; app. A to Sixth Airborne Division, Weekly Intelligence Summary 54, Aug. 17, 1947, NA, WO 275/60.

  29. Begin (1977a), 290; O’Sullivan, “Abduction”; Bethell (1979), 337; Brutton (1996), 101; Rose (2009), 163–64; “Israel > Netanya > Ha’Alonim Park,” http://www.panoramio.com/photo/51333330.

  30. New York Times, Jewish Chronicle, and Times, Aug. 1, 1947; Wilson (1949), 132.

  31. Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, July 31, 1947, NA, CO 537/2300; Third Parachute Brigade, Intelligence Summary 2, Aug. 20, 1947; Macatee to Marshall, telegram, Aug. 1, 1947, in FRUS, 1947, 5:1134; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 2, 1947, Cunningham Papers, II/2; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 2, 1947, NA, FCO 141/14284; Palestine Post, Aug. 1 and 4, 1947.

  32. Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 1, 1947, Cunningham Papers, II/2; High Commissioner’s Monthly Report for July 1947, NA, CO 537/2281.

  33. Note of an interview, July 31, 1947, Cunningham Papers, V/1; Times, Aug. 1, 1947; Palestine Post, Aug. 3, 1947; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 2, 1947, NA, FCO 141/14284.

  34. Wilson (1949), 132; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 1, 1947, NA, CO 733/477 75156/151 A; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 2, 1947; Times, Aug. 1, 1947.

  35. Cunningham to Creech Jones, letter, Nov. 15, 1947, NA, CO 733/477 75156/151 A; Brutton (1996), 102.

  36. Sixth Airborne Division, Fortnightly Intelligence Summary 47, July 19–Aug. 1, 1947, NA, WO 275/64; Times, Aug. 2, 1947; Palestine Post, Aug. 3, 1947; minutes of security conference, Aug. 1, 1947, Cunningham Papers, IV/1; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 1, 1947, Cunningham Papers, II/2.

  37. Palestine Post, Aug. 3, 1947; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegrams, Aug. 1 and 2, 1947, Cunningham Papers, II/2; High Commissioner’s Monthly Report for July 1947.

  38. Debates, House of Commons, vol. 441, col. 2342 (Harold Lever), Aug. 12, 1947; JIC (47) 52 (0) Chiefs of Staff Committee, Joint Intelligence Subcommittee, Possible Future of Palestine, Sept. 4, 1947, NA, CAB 158/2; MacMillan to Crocker, Aug. 1, 1947, NA, CAB 158/2.

  39. Times, Aug. 2, 1947; Creech Jones to Cunningham, telegram, Aug. 5, 1947, NA, CO 537/2299; CM (47) 69, Aug. 5, 1947, NA, CAB 128/10; Daily Telegraph, Aug. 7, 1947.

  40. MacMillan to Bols, letter, July 26, 1947, NA, WO 275/84; Times, Aug. 1, 1947; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 4, 1947, NA, CO 537/2299.

  41. Crocker to Simpson, telegram, Aug. 3, 1947, NA, WO 216; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Monthly Report for July (n.d.), NA, FCO 141/14284; telegrams 113 and 115, Aug. 2 and 5, 1947, in Tauber (2012), 134–35, 139.

  42. Voice of Fighting Zion, Aug. 3, 1947, K-4 7/15, JI; Sixth Airborne Division, Intelligence Summary 48, Aug. 2–15, 1947, and 59, Sept. 1947, NA, WO 275/64; Tavin and Alexander (1982), 228–29.

  43. Bellenger to Simpson, note, and Simpson to Bellenger, reply, Aug. 4, 1947, NA, WO 216/221; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 4, 1947, NA, CO 733/477 75156/151 A.

  44. Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 4, 1947, NA, CO 733/477 75156/151 A.

  45. Gale, “Operation ‘Tiger,’ ” July 28 and Aug. 2 and 6, 1947, NA, WO 216/181; Times, Aug. 6, 1947.

  46. Telegrams 116, 117, 188, Aug. 5, 7, and 8, 1947, in Tauber (2012), 139–41; Palestine Post, Aug. 6 and 8, 1947.

  47. Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 7, 1947, Cunningham Papers, II/2.

  48. Trafford Smith, minute, Aug. 12, 1947, NA, CO 537/2299; Mathieson to Charteris, letter, Aug. 28 1947, NA, CO 537/2299; Mathieson, minute, Aug. 28, 1947, NA, CO 537/2299; Palestine Post, Aug. 8, 1947; Crocker to Simpson, telegram, Aug. 3, 1947, NA, WO 216/221; Crocker to Cunningham, letter, Aug. 13, 1947, Cunningham Papers, V/4; Appreciation by MacMillan, Aug. 5, 1947, NA, WO 261/541.

  49. Trafford Smith, minute, Aug. 12, 1947; Mathieson, minute, Aug. 26, 1947, NA, CO 537/2299; Mathieson to Charteris, letter, Sept. 10. 1947, NA, CO 537/2299; minutes of security conference, Sept. 26, 1947, Cunningham Papers, IV/1.

  50. Daily Express and Times, Aug. 1, 1947; Sykes (1965), 382–83; Monroe (1961), 34; note of conversation, Aug. 4, 1947, NA, FO 371/61821.

  51. Louis (1984), 464; Times, Aug. 1 and 2, 1947.

  52. Times and Palestine Post, Aug. 5, 1947; Cesarani (2009), 179.

  53. Sixth Airborne Division, Intelligence Summary 48, Aug. 2–15, 1947, NA, WO 275/64; Shomron Bloc Jewish Settlements to Gurney, letter, Sept. 7, 1947, CS D/160/40, ISA; Brigadier W. S. Cole to Gurney, letter, Oct. 27, 1947, CS D/160/40, ISA; District Commissioner to Chief Secretary, letter, Nov. 19, 1947, CS D/160/40, ISA.

  54. Sixth Airborne Division, Intelligence Fortnightly Newsletter 48, Aug. 2–15, 1947; Monroe (1961), 34; Gurney to Cunningham, letter, Aug. 4, 1947, Cunningham Papers, VI/1.

  55. Manchester Guardian and Daily Telegraph, Aug. 1, 1947; Economist, Aug. 9, 1947.

  56. Times, Aug. 1, 1947; Debates, House of Commons, vol., cols. 2314–15, Aug. 12, 1947.

  57. Debates, House of Commons, vol. 441, cols. 2328–29, Aug. 12, 1947.

  58. Debates, House of Commons, vol. 441, cols. 2340–47, 2360–62, Aug. 12, 1947.

  59. Beeley, minute, Aug. 17, 1947, NA, FO 371/61948; Mathieson to Donald MacGillivray (undersecretary, CO, and liaison officer, UNSCOP), telegram, Aug. 22, 1947, NA, FO 371/61786.

  60. Wright, draft paper, Aug. 21, 1947, NA, FO 371/61948; Sir Gladwyn Jebb (assistant undersecretary and UN adviser, FO) and Sir Orme Sargent (permanent undersecretary, FO), minutes, Aug. 21 and 22, 1947, NA, FO 371/61948.

  61. Note, Aug. 11, 1947, NA, PREM 8/623.

  62. Quoted in Beeley, minute, Aug. 19, 1947, NA, FO 371/61948.

  63. García-Granados (1948), 172–82; Gruber (1948), 17–59; Holly (1969), 191–259; Sykes (1965), 381–82; Wilson (1949), 134–35; Jeffery (2010), 693–94.

  64. Economist, Oct. 18, 1947; Bethell (1979), 342–43; Hurewitz (1976), 140; Jeffery (2010), 694; Louis (1984), 464, 470; Sykes (1965), 381–84; Gruber (1948), 127–28; Holly (1969), 265–67; Wilson (1949), 137–39.


  65. Economist, Oct. 18, 1947; Bethell (1979), 343; Hurewitz (1976), 140; Louis (1984), 464, 470; Sykes (1965), 383–84; García-Granados (1948), 182, 213.

  66. Laqueur (1969), 108–12.

  67. The Australian representative abstained from voting on either plan on the ground that a unanimous report had not been produced. García-Granados (1948), 242n2; Bullock (1983), 476.

  68. Times, Sept. 1, 1947; Economist, Sept. 6, 1947; Creech Jones to Munro [sic], letter, Oct. 23, 1961, box 32/6, Creech Jones Papers.

  69. CP (47) 262, Sept. 18, 1947, NA, CAB 129/21.

  70. CP (47) 259, Sept. 18, 1947, NA, CAB 129/21.

  71. Ibid.

  72. CM (47) 76, Sept. 20, 1947, NA, CAB 128/10; Pimlott (1986), 414.

  73. CM (47) 76, Sept. 20, 1947, NA, CAB 128/10.

  74. Speech to Ad Hoc Committee on the Palestine Question, Sept. 26, 1947, box 31/3, Creech Jones Papers.

  75. CM 86 (47), Nov. 11, 1947, NA, CAB 128/10.

  EPILOGUE: ONLY THUS

  1. Creech Jones to Munro [sic], letter, Oct. 23, 1961.

  2. Creech Jones to Callaghan, letter, Nov. 30, 1961, box 32/3, Creech Jones Papers.

  3. Brutton (1996), 96; O’Sullivan, Annual Report for J2 Section, 1947.

  4. Nachmani (1980), 1; Gurney Diary, March 15–May 14, 1948, entry for March 25, 1948, 19, Gurney Papers.

  5. Note of interview, July 31, 1947, Cunningham Papers, V/1.

  6. Irgun Press, no. 1/5, Aug. 1939, K-4 4/15, JI.

  7. Thurston Clarke (1981), 29, 37; Montefiore (2011), 477; Crossman (1947), 118; Begin (1977a), 52, 212; Aviezer and Nakdimon (1978), 115; Begin (1977a), 52.

  8. Marlowe (1959), 226.

  9. Cunningham (1948), 485; Notes for Talk to Secretary of State on July 20, 1946, Cunningham Papers, IV/2.

  10. Paget (1967), 8 and 156.

  11. Creech Jones to Ollerenshaw, letter, April 10, 1947; Memorandum on the Comparative Treatment.

  12. Palestine Post, Aug. 4 and 5, 1947.

  13. JP (45) 30, Feb. 15, 1945, NA, AIR 20/4959; Ismay to Attlee, minute, Nov. 29, 1945, PREM 8/83; Cunningham to Creech Jones, telegram, Aug. 31, 1947, NA, CO 537/2299.