Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Captain J. A. Carr, Royal Army Service Corps (Expeditionary Forces Institute), who was killed in the Jewish terrorist attack on the Goldsmith Officer’s Club on 1 March 1947

Africa Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, all neatly impressed ‘Boots-style’, ‘Captain J. A. Carr, RASC EFI’; General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine 1945-48 (Capt. J. A. Carr, R.A.S.C.) good very fine and better (4) £500-£700

John Allison Carr was born in Leyton, East London in August 1914 and was educated at Walthamstow Technical College. He enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps in March 1940, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in December 1942. He served during the Second World War in North Africa from January to June 1943 and subsequently ‘for three years in Ceylon and later transferred to the N.A.A.F.I. (the Expeditionary Forces Institute) and was promoted to Captain’ (a local newspaper feature, refers).

It was in this latter capacity that Carr embarked for Palestine in March 1946, where he was killed in the terrorist attack on the Goldsmith Officer’s Club in Jerusalem on 1 March 1947; some sources state that he died of wounds at the local British Military Hospital on the same date.

The following extract has been taken from the official report of H.Q. British Troops Palestine:
‘Undoubtedly in reprisal for the incident when the S.S. Ulna carrying illegal immigrants ran aground at Haifa on 28 February 1947, IRGUN and STERN carried out a series of outrages throughout Palestine on the 1-2 March 1947. The most serious of these was the attack on the Officer’s Club in Jerusalem.

At approximately 15:24 on 1 March 1947 light automatic fire was directed at the gardens on the Goldsmith Officer's Club in King George V Avenue. The fire was observed to be coming from the following areas - from behind the low wall of the house opposite the Yeshurum Synagogue, from the grounds of the Jewish Agency, from the porch of the Yeshurum Synagogue, the alley beside Pikovsky's Printing Press and an identified location east of the Goldsmith Club in the area of Bezalel Street. At about 15:25 a truck drove down Keren Kayemeth Street across King George V Avenue and drove straight through the entrance in the wire surrounding the Goldsmith Club. 1 South Lancashire Regiment guards challenged the truck and were fired on sustaining several casualties. As soon as the truck stopped, four thugs descended. One of the thugs placed a phosphorous bomb alongside the Guard Tent, another thug was seen to throw a suitcase through a side window of the club. Some unidentified objects were also placed against the side of the building. The thugs then ran off in the direction of the Mamillah Cemetery.

At about 15:30 there was a big explosion which destroyed the south end of the building, which collapsed burying a number of occupants. Whilst the truck was driving through the wire a Police truck was travelling north along King George V Avenue and was caught in the cross fire between 1 South Lancs. and the attackers. One British Clerical Officer was killed and three British Police Officers injured. The attackers were estimated at 20 in number, including those giving covering fire. The truck used in the incident had been stolen in Tel Aviv that morning. Rescue operations started immediately and R.E. detachments under the command of 65 Field Company R.E. were called to help. The work proceeded all through the night and all casualties were evacuated. The casualties were as follows:

2 officers (Major G. T. Widgery, R.E. and Captain J. A. Carr, R.A.S.C.) and 1 other rank killed (Pte. A. Kenyon, 1st Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment), 1 British Clerical Officer killed and 9 non-British civilians killed. 5 British officers wounded, 1 British Police Officer wounded, 2 British other ranks wounded, 2 British Constables wounded 2 T.A.C. Constables wounded, 1 British and 5 non-British civilians wounded. At 19:00 a Curfew was imposed on the Jewish area of Jerusalem and at 08:00 on 2 March 1947 Martial Law was imposed on a part of the Jewish area in the North of the city.’

Carr, a useful cricketer and talented musician, left a widow, Joan, and a three year old son, David. He was buried in Ramleh War Cemetery.

Sold with the War Office G.S.M. forwarding letter addressed to the recipient’s widow, and copied research.