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Tributes as legendary last surviving member of WWII special forces unit dies at 100
'Everything we have, we have because of men such as Jack. We may never see their like again', says AJEX in moving tribute to British army veteran and hero Jack Mann
Jack Mann, the last surviving member of the SAS and British Army special forces unit Long Range Desert Group, died on 15 August at 100 years old.
Born in Cairo, Mann heard about the fate of fellow Jews in the Holocaust from family who remained in Europe, lied about his age and joined the British Army in 1942 aged just 17 years old.
As a radio operator in World War II, he mastered several languages, served with the Royal Signals and was the last surviving member of his regiment, the Long Range Desert Group, (a British Army special forces unit that carried out raiding missions behind enemy lines), reconnaissance and espionage group Special Operations Executive, Royal Dragoons Guard, the SAS and Special Boat Service.
His time in the military took him to North Africa, (where he took on Field Marshal Erwin Rommel and the Afrika Korps), the Middle East, (including a posting in Mandatory Palestine) the Greek islands, Libya and Cyprus.
He undertook a parachute course, where training included jumping out of a truck at 20 miles an hour and jumping off the top of a ladder, about 5 metres high, without a harness.
Despite a distinguished military career under his belt, on Remembrance Sunday 2024, Jack said: “I can’t say I’m a hero. My job was communications, and that’s what I did.”
He featured in military historian Damien Lewis’s 2014 book, ‘Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII’, later used as the basis for Guy Ritchie’s blockbuster movie, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.
Posting in heartfelt tribute, Lewis wrote: “It was always an honour and priviledge to spend time with Jack, either hearing his stories of the war or of the remarkable life he lead thereafter. Jack executed behind the lines missions in North Africa, the Middle East and Europe, and he remained a stalwart supporter of the SAS Regimental Association, being a regular at commemorations and reunions, as these photos testify. He was modest, self-effacing and humble until the end. Rest in peace, Jack. We will remember them.”
Dan Fox, AJEX Emeritus Chair said: Jack “Zucky” Mann z”l. A hero. A gentleman. An inspiration. To his wife, Helga, and his family, we wish long lives. And may his memory be as a blessing.”
Mike Bluestone, AJEX Honorary President described Jack Mann as “a WW2 special forces hero whose military exploits are truly legendary. Above everything else, Jack was truly humble. A self-effacing, multi-talented family man who was loved by all who knew him. Jack represented a very special generation whose sacrifices gave us our freedom. Rest in peace Jack. Your memory will always be an inspiration to us, and we shall never forget you”.
In a statement earlier this week, the SAS Regimental Association said: “Jack volunteered to join the [British] Army and thanks to his language skills and experience, he was selected for special operations, serving in the LRDG, SAS, SBS, and SOE, and went on to carry out daring missions behind enemy lines across North Africa, the Middle East, and Europe.”
Also writing in tribute, The Veterans Association wrote: “We are saddened to hear of the death of Second World War veteran Jack Mann, aged 100. Jack was believed to be the last surviving veteran of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) – the reconnaissance and raiding force that operated deep behind enemy lines in North Africa and worked alongside the early SAS”, adding that when asked in an interview why remembrance was so important to him, “Jack’s answer was equally simple: it was about paying respect to the men who never came home.Today, we remember Jack, his generation and all those alongside whom he served. Rest in peace, Jack Mann.”
Mann was cared for in his final years at a Jewish Care home and chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown said, “We express our heartfelt condolences to Jack’s family.
“We are honoured to have cared for and supported Jack. His legacy lives on, and we will continue to be inspired by his courage and by all he did for his country so that we could live in peace. May his memory be a blessing.”
Speaking at Jewish Care’s Remembrance Sunday and Kristallnacht commemorations in November 2024, Jack Mann said: “I joined the forces to fight the enemy – the Nazis. And they said ‘We’ve got a job for you. You’ll go into the special forces and you’ll see plenty of action. I tell everyone, my children, my grandchildren to never forget because war is terrible, I know because I was in it.”
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