Although Cardiff United Synagogue in Cyncoed Gardens, Cardiff is relatively new building it has two war memorial plaques moved there from other synagogues in Cardiff that have now closed down.
Those remembered on the memorial:
LEON ASHER BASSMAN
Sergeant (Flight Engineer), 550 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number 1423298).
Leon ‘Lawrence’ Asher Bassman was born in Cardiff in 1922 to Henry Bassman, a cabinet maker and sales agent, originally from Russia and Lucy Maud Bassman nee Willett from Newport. Leon’s father had served in the British Army in WWI in the 9th Russian Labour Corps (1917-19). Leon attended St Illtyd’s school (1934-39) and the family lived at 31 Glynrhondda Street, Cathays. He had served in the RAF for three years and was a Sergeant (Flight Engineer) in 550 Squadron when he died on 4 Oct 1944 aged 22. He was one of seven crew on a training flight on Lancaster NF963 when it lost control, went into a steep dive and crashed in North Yorkshire. The pilot managed to parachute to safety but was badly injured. The other six crew members were killed including Leon Bassman. He is buried at the Jewish Cemetery in Windsor Place, Cardiff (Grave A2/20). Leon Bassman is remembered on a plaque at Cardiff United Synagogue at Cyncoed Gardens and on the St Illtyd’s school memorial plaque at St Alban on the Moor church. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
PHILIP MAXWELL BOGOD
Captain, Royal Artillery – attached to 658 A.O.P. Squadron Royal Air Force (Service number 166641)
Philip Maxwell Bogod was born in Cardiff in 1921 to Wilfred Morris Bogod, managing director of a sewing machine company, and Fanny Bogod nee Copeland. The Bogod family lived in ‘Leeside’ on Windsor Road, Radyr, Cardiff. He signed up in 1939 with the Royal Artillery where his service number was 922375. He was later attached to 658 Royal Air Force Air Observation Post squadron and gained his wings in 1942. He died on 19 May 1943 aged 22 when a plane he was in crashed into trees on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. He was buried at Windsor Place Synagogue (Sec. Grave A4135). He is remembered on the Radyr War Memorial and a war memorial plaque at Cardiff United Synagogue in Cyncoed Gardens. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
PAUL CLOMPUS
Lieutenant, C Squadron 12th, Royal Tank Regiment, RAC (Service Number 264511).
Paul Clompus was born in Cardiff in 1922 to Harry Clompus, a pawnbroker, originally from Palanga in Lithuania and Esta Clompus née Zeitlin from Manchester. He attended Cardiff High School and the family lived at 4 Constellation Street, Adamsdown and then at 65 Marlborough Road, Penylan. He was studying to become an accountant when he was called up. He trained at Sandhurst and served in North Africa and then in Italy where he died on 18 Sep 1944 aged 22. He was a tank commander in the Battle of Rimini and his tank suffered a direct hit, killing him instantly. He is buried in Gradara War Cemetery in Italy (Grave number I C 31). He is remembered on a plaque at Cardiff United Synagogue. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
DAVID COWEN
Canteen Manager, H.M.S. Dasher, Royal Navy (Service Number: C/NX 2245)
David Cowen was born in Cardiff on 4 Oct 1911 to Solomon Cowen, a dealer in jewelry and drapery, originally from Russia and Sarah Cowen née Isaacs also originally from Russia. In 1921 the Cowen family lived at 6 Plantagenet Street, Riverside. At the time of the 1939 Register David Cowen was boarding at 4 King’s Gardens, Plymouth and training to be a naval canteen manager. He enlisted Aug 1937 and served in the Pacific, on the Russian convoy route, North Atlantic, and took part in naval actions off Norway and the North African campaign. He was killed in explosion on board HMS Dasher in Firth of Clyde on 27 Mar 1943, aged 31. David Cowen is remembered on the WWII memorial at Cardiff United Synagogue. He is also remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. HMS Dasher was a converted American vessel that entered into British navel service in Jul 1942. A total of 379 out of 528 crewmen died as a result of the explosion, drowned or died of hypothermia, making it one of the largest tragedies in UK in WWII. The cause is thought to be accidental.
DENNIS DAVIES
Sergeant, 158 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number: 1705248)
Dennis Davies was born on 10 Sep 1922 in Cardiff (registered at birth as Denis) to Mark Davies, who worked as an agent for a clean towel company and later as a tobacconist and Edith Alice Davies née Caldwell, both originally from Manchester. In 1939 Dennis was working as traveller (general fabrics) and living at Melrose Court, Penhill Road, Llandaff with his father. He later lived at 12 Insole Grove East. In WWII he served as a Sergeant with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was killed on 25 May 1944, aged 21. He was a rear gunner on a Halifax Mk III which had taken off from RAF Lissett, Yorkshire and intercepted and shot down at night 30 km north of Aachen. Three of the crew were killed and the other four taken prisoner. He is buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery (grave 11.C.21). He is remembered on a memorial at the Cardiff United Synagogue. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
SIDNEY FELMAN
Flight Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner), 57th Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Sid Felman was born on 9th July 1917 to David Felman, a bullion buyer, and Jany Felman née Malamid. In 1939 the family were living at 7 Wordsworth Avenue, Roath with Sidney working as a canvasser. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record for Sidney record the family address as being Penylan so they may well have moved in the early years of the war. He was on board the a Wellington bomber R1437 which was shot down and crashed, at Rholderfehn, Germany, on 10th Apr 1941. He was aged 22. He is buried at the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, in Germany (Grave17.C.I) and date of death recorded as the date he and the crew went missing.
CPL ELI FINE R.A.S.C.
CPL CYRIL H GOLDMAN R.A.F.
CPL ABRAHAM GRUNIS R.A.F.V.R.
SGT TONY HAZAN R.A.F.
SGT WOOLF HOLMAN R.A.M.C.
SEAMAN HENRY HUNTMAN M.N.
GDSMN SANUEL HUNTMAN WELSH GUARDS
CAPT JACOB H JOSEPH R.A.M.C.
FLT/SGT HYMAN LEVENE R.A.F.
FLT/SGT NAV H KENNETH LEVY R.A.F.
STEWARD SAMUEL MESSER M.N.
SGT SAMUEL MIARA R.A.F.
AB CYRIL NEWMAN R.N.
STEWARD LEON PHILLIPS R.N.
STOKER JONATHAN PHILLIPS R.N.
STEWARD JACK PHILLIPS R.N.
SGT THEODORE A RUBENSTEIN ARMY A.C.
SGT A/G EDWARD SHATZ R.A.F.
MAJOR RUDOLF STUPPEL R.A.M.C.
The names on the memorial:
AARON SIMEON COHEN
Lieutenant, Royal Army Medical Corps
Aaron Simeon ‘Zak’ Cohen was born on 2 Apr 1891 in Ferndale, Glamorgan to Eli Cohen, a pawnbroker, originally from Kaunas, Lithuania and Yetta Cohen née Melcher, originally from Poland. By 1901 the Cohen family had moved to 94 Woodville Road, Cathays. Aaron attended Crwys Road school and Howard Gardens Secondary school and then went on to South Wales (Cardiff) University. He qualified as a medical doctor and won numerous scholarships along the way. He trained at both Westminster and St Mary’s hospitals in London before starting medical practice at Foulby, Yorkshire and then going onto Chelsea Infirmary. He joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in May 1915, served as a Lieutenant, and was attached to the 8th battalion Somerset Light Infantry. He was killed in action at the Battle of Loos on 25 Nov 1915 aged 24. He has no known burial place. He was remembered on the Loos Memorial in France (panel 136) as well as the war memorial plaques at Howard Gardens, Cardiff University, and the plaques for Windsor Place and Cathedral Road synagogues, Cardiff. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ISAAC COHEN
SOLLY HARRIS
MORRIS JACKSON
ISSY SHIBKO
MOSS ZEILER
LT WILLIAM WOOLF
ISAAC GREENBERG
MAURICE ISAACS
SAM LACOMBE
ALBERT MOSS BELMAN
MAURICE ZIMMERMAN
Also currently in storage is the memorial that used to be at the Cardiff Cathedral Road Synagogue:
Roath Local History Society 