13. LtCol Margolin DSO MID
WW1 - Lieutenant Colonel Eliazar (Lazar) MARGOLIN DSO MID
Saluting their Service - Grahame Old
WW1 Collie Soldier who served Two Nations
In the early 1900s men flocked to Collie from all over Australia and from overseas, seeking work in the mining and timber industries. Among them was a Russian merchant, Eliazar (Lazar) MARGOLIN. Born in Belgorod, Russia in 1875, Eliazar and his family emigrated to the village of Rehovot, Palestine in 1892 where they worked an orchard. It was here that young Eliazar discovered his fighting skills protecting the family orchard from marauding Arabs. It was said; “he rides like a Bedouin and shoots like an Englishman”. When his parents died Lazar found himself the sole breadwinner caring for his younger sister and brother. In 1902 in depressed conditions, Lazar was one of many Palestinian Jews who sold up and sought a better life elsewhere. Lazar sailed for Australia accompanied by his sister Esther, where he worked as a labourer in Sydney whilst learning English. He then opened a small business before moving to Collie in 1904, again with his sister, where they operated a cordial factory. Lazar then became a naturalised Australian Citizen which opened the way for his passion of soldiering. In 1911 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and given command of the Collie Company of the 1st Battalion Western Australian Infantry Regiment. Tall and dark he spoke with a low voice and Russian accent, Margolin could also speak Hebrew and Arabic. When WW1 erupted in 1914 he was quick to enlist into the AIF as a direct entry officer.
War History-WW1 (Australian Service)
Eliazar Margolin, then aged 39 yrs, enlisted on the 18th September 1914 with the rank of Lieutenant and was posted to the newly formed 16th Infantry Battalion Australian Imperial Force. The 16th was a composite Bn made up with volunteers from both Western and South Australia. Lt Margolin was quickly recognised as a fine officer and promoted to Captain. On the 25 April 1915 Captain Margolin commanding B Company, 16th Infantry battalion, was among the first of his battalion to land on Gallipoli. Margolin led from the front, his troops knew him affectionately as 'Margy’ - a disciplinarian, taciturn, quick-tempered but fair and courageous, who always showed great concern for their welfare. He was wounded in action on the 5th May but remained on duty. Promoted to Major in the field Margolin took temporary command of the 16th Battalion in September 1915.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for actions on the Gallipoli peninsula over the period 1st to 12th September 1915. He was also awarded a Mentioned in Despatches (MID) for actions during the withdrawal phase in December 1915. The citations read;
DSO “ Commanded the defensive line on the north bank of the Khaijik Dere under difficult and trying circumstances and, by his example kept efficient and in good spirits the garrison of his post which was much weakened by fatigue and sickness, during the period September 1 to 12. Subsequently in Nov, and Dec, he commanded the No 2 Subsection of the defensive line held by the brigade, and organised the improvement of the defences and the vigorous patrolling of the front most effectively.”
MID “During the re-embarkation on Dec 19th, he commanded the rear party of his Battalion in a most praiseworthy manner”.
After being reinforced in Egypt, the 16th Battalion moved to the Western Front in France. Margolin was again wounded in action. From June to September 1917 he was promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel in command of the 14th Battalion and again awarded a Mentioned in Despatches (MID). His temporary Lt Col status was relinquished when he returned to the 16th Battalion where he was again wounded, requiring his evacuation to England with a severe injury to the knee.
The AIF command determined that Major Margolin’s injury would prevent him from returning to the front and therefore he would be restricted to a staff position in the London HQ of the AIF. Faced with this Major Margolin resigned his commission with the AIF and immediately accepted a position in the British Imperial Army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Officer of the newly formed 39th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. The 39th Battalion was one of three volunteer Jewish battalions of the British Army formed to fight the Turks in Palestine.
On 18 March 1918, he took command of his battalion, telling his troops that 'our aim is to participate in the fighting on the front of Eretz Israel and the liberation of our homeland'. Among his recruits in the 39th Battalion were the future Israel Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and the future second President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. In September the Jewish Battalions under the command of General Allenby joined the ANZAC Light Horse which drove the Turks from Northern Palestine.
War History-Post WW1 (Israeli Service)
Following the Armistice in 1918 after most of the Jewish volunteers had returned home Margolin remained in Palestine. In 1919 he set up a new unit, the first Jewish Battalion of Judea. The Battalion had its own insignia and uniform but was still part of and financed by the British. In May 1921 following a parade riot broke out in Jaffa and spread to Tel Aviv, resulting in bloody fighting between Arabs and Jews. Lt Col Margolin requested urgent assistance from the British in the form of arms to suppress the riots and protect the Jews in Jaffa, however the British refused. He then organised and led up to 300 volunteers to intervene and bring control to the riots that had cost many lives on both sides. His decision to act no doubt saved many lives and was the first military actions in the fight for what was to become the state of Israel. British commanders threatened to court martial Lt Col Margolin but after hearing his case gave him an honourable discharge and ordered him to leave the country.
Eliazar Margolin returned to Western Australia in 1921 and was involved in several business ventures, including a service station in Nedlands and a Bus company. He became Vice President of the WA branch of the RSL, a foundation member of Perth Legacy, President of the Naval and Military club and of the 16th Battalion association.
Eliazar Margolin died in 1944 and was cremated at Karrakatta cemetery. The WA state branch of the RSL paid the following tribute to Colonel Margolin; “Although born outside the British Empire, Colonel Margolin was intensely British and large numbers of diggers apart from his old comrades of the 16th Battalion will mourn his loss”.
In 1949 in accordance with his wishes his ashes, ceremonial sword, medals and decorations were returned to Israel for a military funeral. As the funeral procession of the former Collie merchant and Australian Army Officer wound its way through the dusty streets of Rehovot, south of Tel Aviv, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi walked a respectful distance behind the vehicle carrying the coffin of the first military hero of the newly created state of Israel. In 1956 a memorial to Lieutenant Colonel Eliazar Margolin was unveiled in Rehovot.
Remembered forever at the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch
‘Lest We Forget’