Francus, Shmaryahu

Shmaryahu, son of Sima and Shimon Francus, was born on 26.9.1913 in Lvov, eastern Galicia, to observant parents. In 1939 he boarded the Parita and joined the labor and defense service of the Betar Recruiting Company in Mishmar HaYarden. In September 1940, Shmaryahu was drafted to the British Army and later joined the Jewish Brigade. He was helpful and to all, regardless of their views. During his six years of service in the Western Desert, Italy and the Low Countries, he fulfilled his obligation to fight the enemy, to help the survivors and to help the illegal immigrants. Shmaryahu guarded Mishmar HaYarden, for the national guard on the Syrian border. He loved nature and agricultural work. When the War of Independence began, he would leave to work in the field, armed with weapons, and after the working hours, spent the nights on guard duty, defending mothers and babies, including his own. When the mothers and children were evacuated to Rosh Pina, he did not go with the other husbands to visit his family because he forbade himself to leave the guardpost for a moment. At the time of the Second Truce, the Syrians attacked the Jordanian Police Station and managed to conquer it. In this battle, on 3 Sivan (06/10/1948), Shmaryahu remained alone at his post and continued to fire his weapon until he fell. On the 21st of Kislev 5712 (12.12.1949) he was laid to rest in the military cemetery at Nahalat Yitzhak.