Wilnitz, Simcha
Son of-Elisheva and Michael, was born on March 30, 1918 in the Jewish Quarter of London, the capital of Britain. In his youth, he received a national-religious education and then acquired a higher education. When he grew up, he became fond of the Land of Israel. In 1940 he joined the British Army and fought under the command of Orad Charles Wingate, a friend of Israel, in the jungles of Burma and in the rear of the Japanese forces, and was promoted to Major. Even when he was a British soldier, he maintained his Jewishness and carried it proudly. With the establishment of the Jewish Brigade, he was sent to him at his request: “It is better to be with my people” – he said. On his return to England he was not restless, and preached to youth and adults about Zionism and building the country. After his release from the army, he immigrated to Israel in January 1947 as a merchant in the sky, circumventing the British restrictions on immigration. At the outbreak of the War of Independence he left his job at the Anglo-Palestine Bank and joined the army, and after a short period of active service he was transferred to the position of liaison officer with UN observers. In his contact with them, he represented the Jewish soldier with honor. His eye was sharp and aware of what was going on around him. Was not deterred by any danger and fulfilled his duty with devotion and loyalty. Major Simcha Wilnitz fell on a landmine in the vicinity of Faluja on March 2, 1949. He was brought to rest in the Nachlat Yitzhak military cemetery.
