Samuel Adelson (ADE6367)

Basic Information

Unique reference:

ADE6367

Other first name:

Schmiel

Gender:

Male

Birth

Date of birth:

25 Heshvan 5657 (01 November 1896)

Place of birth:

Nemajuni, Lithuania

Date arrived in Britain:

1918

Death

Date of death:

18 Av 5684 (18 August 1924)

Died in combat?:

Place of death:

Springfield, Massachusetts

Cause of death:

Food poisoning

Burial place:

Beth-El Cemetery, Springfield, MA USA

Places

Addresses

Sister's house:

20 Harrison St Worcester, Massachusetts (1918)

113 Massasoit st Springfield, Massachusetts (1917)

Royal Fusiliers Mutiny

Family legend

Samuel Adelson was one of 54 men in the 38th and 39th Royal Fusiliers to have been charged with mutiny in Palestine and sentenced by court-martial to penal servitude and hard labor. However, Lieut. Jabotinsky petitioned the King for mercy, and Lt.-Col. Patterson petitioned British MPs, which was successful. Samuel returned to the US in 1920 and lived in Springfield, Massachusetts until his death in 1924 from food poisoning.

My grandmother (his sister) had told us a story that he had been imprisoned for objecting to the treatment of the mules. It seems that he was, in reality, along with the other 53 men, objecting to the treatment of the Jews in the battalion.

Homefront

Occupation:

Mattress maker

What was the impact of this:

Sam arrived in the US from Nemajuni, Lithuania, in 1912. He lived with his brother, Louis, and then on his own until sometime after June 1917, he moved to Worcester to live with his sister. Sam never married and had no children. He died at the young age of 24 from food poisoning.

Military Record

Military service:

Army, 38th Royal Fusiliers

Military record no.:

J/6401

Date enlisted/conscripted:

29 July 2019

Date discharged/death:

1920

Rank at discharge/death:

Private

Assignments

Regiment:

Royal Fusiliers (City of London)

Battalion/unit:

38th Jewish

Posting:

Tel-el-Kabir
Rafa

Campaigns:

Sam arrived in Egypt in December 1918, after the armistice was signed. Like the other Americans who joined late in the war, he was assigned primarily to guard duty in Rafa and Bir Salem.

Along with many other Americans, he became frustrated and angry that the British had reneged on their promise to demobilize the troops in Palestine, and the slow pace of demobilization. In early July 1919, he and 54 others joined a mutiny with many ending up in prison. Lt. Jabotinsky was their Friend of the Accused and lawyer. After some political wrangling, they were amnestied after about 4 months.

Medals:

British War Medal

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