A fighting volunteer in 1948

Harold Lenett z”l was one of the Canadians who helped Israel.

A couple of months prior to this year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut, the Jewish Independent had the privilege of seeing some of the material related to Israel’s War of Independence left by Harold Lenett, z”l, who passed away in December 2011. Lenett was one of the Vancouverites who went to Israel to help in its fight for survival in 1948. He left the University of British Columbia with other students to fight, returning in spring 1949. He often spoke of his experiences, passing his love of and commitment to Israel to younger generations, including his grandchildren. What follows are his notes for two of the many talks he gave to the community. The first gives a very broad overview, while the second fills in some of the missing details.

Undated and untitled
1927 Born in Regina
1928 Moved to Toronto
1942 Came at 14 to Vancouver
Lived on Robson Street and went to King George High School ...

In summers worked in a logging camp ... met Arthur Goldberg. Involved in Young Judea ... Zionism

From high school ... UBC

Myself, Arthur, Al Gelmon, Sonny Wosk, Joe Tunis and others had so-called training in secret at Camp Hatikvah ... Crescent Beach after Partition ... before having psychological tests and medical tests, etc.

Left Vancouver in March of 1948 at the age of 20
New York to Marseilles by old freighter
From Marseilles to Le Havre
Given basic training for a week and a new passport with the name of Leon Zucker from Bergen Belson
Left France for Israel on a Greek fishing boat with 250 crammed
inside ...

Arrived in Israel as the Altalena was burning in the harbor of Tel Aviv
And interned by the British

Shortly after was asked to volunteer in the artillery in the Galil to fight the Syrians

After several months, during one of the many truces, I hitchhiked to Tel Aviv ... I was picked up by a jeep, driven by Leo Heaps from Winnipeg ...

After 15 months of battle that we won, I decided to go home. It was then that [the] army arrested me for desertion ...

I’m proud today that I was there for Israel’s first election

One of my sons followed many years later and attended the Hebrew University ...

Yom Hazikaron, Yom Ha’atzmaut (Day of Independence) (May 14/48) 56th year
1. [line scribbled out]
2. This land where we began 4,000 years ago
3. Britain requested a Partition (for Jews + Arabs)
a) Israel’s population was 800,000 people (’48)
b) The Arabs – Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq (population of millions)
4. Most of the free world refused accepting Jews, which was the prime reason of Partition
5. The Arabs refused + thus the War of Independence began May 15/48
6. With such a small population + inexperience, the Jews of the world were asked to volunteer, whether experienced or not. In Vancouver, we had a large group (maybe 30), mostly students + a few experienced X soldiers
a) We were sent to N.Y. + [by] ship traveled to France as sightseers
[b)] There we were given a little training! (How to point a rifle)
c) We were then given forged passports as refugees from concentration camps. (I was Leon Zucker from Bergen Belson.) We went on a small Greek boat where there was enough room to sleep like a sardine in a tin can! It took 10 days. The crew got drunk + we hit a reef in Crete. We fortunately evaded the British Navy, [they] were not allowing any more Jews in Palestine.
d) When we landed in Tel Aviv – which has no port – we were taken in small boats to the shore + were in custody of the British – but not for long. I was asked if I would go into the artillery in the Galil. It was led by Mike Lonshot, a Gentile fighting for the Jews. Now I knew how to point a rifle + had to learn of artillery. No rockets available so the local K infantry made some shells from wood, which only made a lot of noise + scared the hell out of the enemy.
e) On leave during a truce, I hitchhiked to Tel Aviv + [was] picked up by Leo Heaps (his father was an alderman in Manitoba) + he was one of the pilots who flew one of 5 large planes to Israel. He asked if I could drive + then gave me command of 12 jeeps! Each one had 4 machine guns – I had to teach the Sabras how to drive. Now, I’m to blame for why the Israelis are terrible drivers.
f) The battle lasted 15 months, until May 15/49. We won! After which there were many peace processes. (Lots of processes but no peace.) We gave + always had to take back. Just like Gaza now.
g) Obviously with limited weapons + surrounded by so many Arab countries, many still can’t believe how we won, but we always had and will continue to have a secret weapon! The mistrust the Arabs have with each other in the past + present
h) I proudly attended the 1st elections for the state of Israel after which I prepared to go home
i) It was then that I was arrested for desertion! Leo Heaps didn’t bother telling Mike Lonshot that I was being transferred. Fortunately, when I told them I was with Leo they laughed + let me go. This was the kind of reputation Leo had.
j) So from 1948 with 800,000 Jews we are now nearly 7 million Israelis (20% non-Jews – Muslim/Christian/Druze)
k) Unfortunately, with many more [peace] “processes” to come, the day the Arabs lay down their weapons there will be peace. The day the Israelis lay down their weapons, there will not be a state of Israel.

^TOP