T
It is a short story written by my late mother, Selina Wood (nee Saltman) and appeared first in the previously titled Manchester Evening News and Chronicle in May 1966.
It is a lightly fictionalised account of what really happened to her father, Israel Saltman, who most sadly went on to die from emphysema (now termed ‘chronic obstructive pulmonary disease’) during World War 2 as a result of having been gassed during the Great War.
There are many examples of Jews, both enlisted service personnel and civilians, whose natural tribal loyalties make them ignore the potential consequences of fraternising with the enemy during a war.
A classic example of this occurred again during the 1982 Falklands War when a British Jewish soldier saved the life of an Argentinian during the Battle of San Carlos because he heard him recite The Shema - the central Jewish prayer. Yes. These miracles - smaller and greater - do happen!
(https://www.thejc.com/hero-b rit-who-saved-argentinian-jew-d…)
In closing, I must apologise for the poor quality of the reproduction of the original newspaper cutting. I hope it's legible to readers with good eyesight. This is the Google link:
Since first posting this item yesterday, I have found software that allows me to reformat and edit my mother’s original manuscript so the story will appear as part of an appendix to my planned story collection based on entries in this blog.
N.I.W.
© Natalie Wood (08 - 09 November 2018)
