Search for relatives of soldier who fought in First World War

Tribute paid to Dundee man at memorial event

Relatives of a First World War soldier are being sought in Dundee after a commemoration ceremony.

Private Lewis Magnus Cohen died during the conflict and is buried in Garnethill Synagogue, Glasgow.

The army recently held a ceremony in memory of his service.

Lewis was one of two soldiers who were remembered on October 14.

In the build-up to Remembrance Day, Captain Scott Menzies tasked two soldiers to find two names of people who gave their lives during the war, specifically those hurt in the field who later died of their wounds in the UK.

Lewis’s Jewish name piqued the interest of the soldiers and they then worked with Garnethill Synagogue to put together a ceremony.

Cpt Menzies said: “We didn’t lay a wreath like usual as that is not in the Jewish faith. Instead, each soldier laid a small stone to show they were there.”

An estimated 1,500 Scottish Jews served in British forces in the First World War.

The Scottish Jewish Archives Centre has compiled a list of 126 who gave their lives.

Lewis was born in Dundee in 1894. The Scottish Jewish Archives Centre, through a 1911 Census, found, as a 16-year-old, he lived with his parents Jacob and Julia at 143 Nethergate, Dundee.

The census shows he resided with four siblings at the time – elder sisters Phoebe and Carrie, younger sister Victoria and younger brother Albert.

The two older sisters worked as actresses and before volunteering for the war, Lewis worked as a travelling draper, selling cloth.

He joined the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry. He served on the Western Front and was shot through the left forearm at some point in February 1916.

He was evacuated to Glasgow, but died after an operation – suffering from Tetanus on May 11 1916. He was just 22.

Tony Silverdale, chairman of the Garnethill Hebrew Congregation, said: “It is possible some descendants could still be traced in the Dundee area.”

Tony asked anyone would might have information to email him at info@ garnethill.org.uk

It is possible some descendants could still be traced in the Dundee area. TONY SILVERDALE

A parade was held at Glasgow Hebrew Congregational Burial Ground to remember Pte Lewis Magnus Cohen who was killed during the First World War.