A brigade was formed in 1944 as part of the British Army and fought with distinction in Italy. It was the first all Jewish 'army', and knowledge of its existence and its role in defeating the Nazis gave an immense boost to Jews everywhere. After the war the brigade helped Jewish refugees beat the British blockade of Palestine. Having fought in the War, author Morris Beckman was the founder member of the 43 Group of Jewish ex-servicemen who attacked and destroyed Mosley's emergent Fascist party in a protracted campaign in the late 1940s.
"'A fitting memorial to those Jews who, at a time when being a Jew was synonymous with being a victim, were determined to take up arms as a Jewish entity and against their own enemies.'"
