Showing 28 results

Archival description
British Columbia Armed Forces
Print preview View:

4 results with digital objects Show results with digital objects

Alan Tapper

Oral history interview with Alan Tapper, interviewed by Matthew Graves and assisted by Alan’s wife, Daphne. Alan speaks on his family’s history as well as adolescence in the Jewish community of East London, England, including the artistic and political environment. Alan talks about his family’s experience during the Second World War in London where his neighborhood was heavily bombed and impoverished by rationing, leading to his family’s evacuation to Devon and Newcastle. Alan discusses his involvement in various youth groups and theatre during the war, such as the Brady’s Boy Club. He talks about his military training at Padgate and subsequent conscription into the Royal Air Force intelligence unit where he was stationed in Egypt to monitor conflict over the Suez Canal. Alan speaks about how his military experience impacted his life and also the anti-Semitism he observed. He discusses his immigration to Vancouver, Canada and his role in numerous Jewish and Zionist organizations and boards, including B’nai Brith and the Canadian Jewish Congress. He talks about his job in fundraising, teaching public speaking, and radio program hosting, as well as his children and marriage.

Arnold Shine and Sam Segal

Oral history interview with Arnold Shine and Sam Segal who discuss the establishment, functions and history of the Canadian Legion in Vancouver. The Jewish Branch of Canadian Legion was founded by Charles Gorovich in 1945, became the Fairview Branch of Canadian Legion and now known as the Shalom Branch of the Canadian Legion. Arnold was in the Army part of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division; served in Normandy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, England. Sam was an Infantry instructor stationed in Vernon.

Bill Gruenthal

Oral history interview with Bill Gruenthal who was born in 1935 in Netanya, Palestine. His father's side is from Silesia, Germany and his mother's side comes from Lower Saxony and Aachen. Bill has been a part of the Jewish National Fund and worked for the Vancouver Board of Trade. Bill discusses tensions between Arab and Jewish communities growing up.

C.O.T.C. Article

An article written by Edward Joseph Seidelman about UBC's Canadian Officers' Training Corps. Article is on page 59-60 of annual.

Ed Rozen

Oral history interview with Ed Rozen who was born in Vancouver, 1918. Ed joined the Air Force in 1935 in the 111th Squadron. When war broke out in 1939 his reserve squadron was folded into the permanent Air Force, leading Ed to go to Bombardier and Gunnery school. Is a founding member of the B. C. Jewish Veterans Association.

Ernest ("Smoky") Smith

Oral history interview with Ernest ("Smoky") Smith who was born in British Columbia in 1914. Ernest fought in Italy during the Second World War under the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, earning a Victoria Cross for his actions on the Po river. Noteworthy for how he received his cross.

Esther Nobleman

Oral history interview with Esther Nobleman. Esther Nobleman believes in the importance of serving the community however one can. Since her arrival in Vancouver from Medicine Hat in the fall of 1969, Esther has contributed much to the Jewish community here. Among other volunteer activities, in the early 1980s she threw herself into the campaign to safeguard the rights of Jews in the former Soviet Union as chair of the Soviet Jewry Committee. Even when time has been all that she's had to give, Esther has given it freely and generously.

Esther was born in the prairies and her husband, Abe Nobleman, was born in Montreal. Esther's parents came to Canada from Russia; Esther' father was in the Russian army but they escaped Russia because of the pogroms. Esther was in the air force in Canada. Her brother was a prisoner of war. Esther worked extensively with the Soviet Jewry campaign in Vancouver as well as being actively involved in a number of organizations and volunteer work.

Franka Gaerber

Oral history interview with Fanka Gaerber who was born 1913 in Stanislav, Galicia. She recounts her experiences of being Jewish in Eastern Europe during the 30's, 40's, escaping the holocaust and the endless terror of years of war.

Results 1 to 10 of 28