Second World War hero receives new headstone with Star of David after 80 years
Until last week, Jewish military veteran Harold Devon had been buried under a cross in Hanover War Cemetery
An RAF hero of the Second World War who was shot down over Germany in 1944 and buried under a cross for 80 years has finally been honoured with a new headstone showing a Star of David to reflect his Jewish identity.
Flying officer Harold. A. Devon was killed in 1944 aged 20 when the Lancaster Bomber he was on mission in was shot down during the Nuremberg raid.
Like many soldiers, war hero Harold had to hide his identity for fear of what Nazi German soldiers could do to him if he were captured and had changed his name from Devan to Devon.
The Commonwealth War Grave Commission buried Harold in the pilots section of Hanover War Cemetery under a cross but two years ago his cousin Julian Devan started to delve into his relative’s history and heroic past. He made contact with the Commonwealth War Grave Commission and last week, a new stone was erected on his grave with a Star of David.
Julian, whose father Simon was Harold’s first cousin and, said: “I became very interested in the story of Harold – WWII interests me and the Jewish soldiers who fought from all countries. In turn I contacted AJEX [Jewish military association] and Martin Sugarman who was fantastic and helped me make contact with the Commonwealth War Graves. They investigated Harold and agreed that his stone should be taken down and a new stone erected on his grave with the Jewish star.”
Before every mission, Harold would visit Julian’s father and family and give him a sixpence. “My dad and everyone else knew that he was going on a bombing mission.
“In 1944, my dad’s cousin visited the family once again and gave my dad the sixpence – this was the night of the Nuremberg Raid.”
Harold’s new stone was paid for by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission in honour of his memory.
Julian added: “He is now buried in a grave signifying that he was a WWII flying officer, with a Jewish emblem, in between two other airman from the same mission with a cross on their stone.
“It’s fascinating. I want to go to the cemetery and say a prayer and place a stone – unfortunately my father is too ill to travel – so this is my next mission.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
