Ayalon (Rosenach), Shimon

Shimon, the only son of Shulamit and Menachem Ayalon (Rosenach), was born in 1924 in Safed. He joined Kibbutz Beit Alfa as a shepherd and later as a schoolteacher. In the Palmach he served in the Negev Brigade as a battalion information officer. He participated in the fourth attack on the Iraqi-Suweidan police on the night of 10-11 June 1948, which was in preparation for the first truce to take effect. The force broke through the fences, but was forced to retreat at dawn due to the depletion of ammunition and the arrival of enemy reinforcements. Shimon commanded the withdrawal after his commander was wounded. He and his friends began to retreat to their base. On the way they were attacked by enemy planes. Shimon was seriously wounded and died on 3 Sivan, June 10, 1948. He was buried in Ruchama and later transferred to eternal rest in the Beit Alpha cemetery.