Van Gelder, David (Anthony)

Son of Morris. He was born in London, England, where he studied at the Hall Hampstatt and Bradfield College, where he worked for a year at the Lloyd’s Insurance Company, and where he joined the army. In January 1944 he was sent to Italy with the eighth camp and fought hard battles in the Casinos, Bacchins, and eastern Italy, when the Jewish Brigade was attached to it at his request and served as a platoon commander in the last days of the battles in Fiuggi. Under his command the platoon managed, after a difficult battle, to capture the first twelve German prisoners and bring them to the camp. He himself showed courage and great resourcefulness in this battle. Already in his early days in the brigade, he approached the Israeli boys and began to learn Hebrew. He was a courageous, cool-hearted man, simple in manner, kind and humorous. He celebrated his first seder, as his comrades in arms say, when he read the Haggadah in Hebrew. He decorated the Seder table with wildflowers that gathered in a nearby minefield. On 23 Nisan, April 6, 1945, when he was with five other soldiers in a position inside a house in front of the Sanyo, a fire broke out, causing an explosion of ammunition, and all the soldiers of the outpost perished in the disaster. David was among them. His name was commemorated in “The Jewish Brigade Book.” An investigation conducted in 2017 found that his other name was David-Anthony. Location Grave Call. Grave IV.D.5 The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) Rank Lieutenant Age 21.