Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu took part today (Monday) in inaugurating the John Henry Patterson Medal.
Patterson played an important role in Zionist revival after he commanded the first two Jewish battalions - the Mule Corps on the Gallipoli front, and later the 38th regiment of the Kalei Hamelech, who fought in Israel.
The medal was commissioned at the initiative of the Public Council to Commemorate the Memory and Activities of Ze'ev Jabotinsky attached to the Prime Minister's Office.
Ze'ev Jabotinsky was a legendary Russian Jewish Revisionist Zionist leader, author, poet, orator, soldier and founder of the Jewish Self-Defense Organization in Odessa, who also established the Beitar and Irgun Zionist organizations in what was then called Palestine.
At the beginning of the First World War, Patterson moved to Alexandria, Egypt.About a year after the outbreak of the war, in 1915, Joseph Trumpeldor and Ze'ev Jabotinsky founded a Hebrew battalion in Egypt (the Mule Corps) and Peterson took command of it.
After the evacuation of British forces from Gallipoli in Egypt and the Mule Corp's dismantling, Patterson assisted Ze'ev Jabotinsky in London in his struggle to establish a Jewish battalion that would be a true combat battalion.For two years Jabotinsky led a complex campaign, rife with disappointments and rejections from the British elite, until the eventual establishment of a fighting force within the British army.
Patterson, who had strong ties to Jabotinsky hailing from their acquaintance in Alexandria, was a key partner in the struggle to convince the British establishment of the importance of the move.On August 23, 1917, the British War Office declared the formation of the regiment (the 38th Regiment of the King's platoon) and, on Jabotinsky's recommendation, Lieutenant Colonel Patterson was appointed commander of the battalion.
"In all of Jewish history, we did not have a Christian friend who was as understanding and dedicated as he was," said Ze'ev Jabotinsky.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said at the dedication ceremony: "I think that the rebirth of the Jewish people would not have been possible without the building of a military force prior to the restoration of sovereignty ... Building the organized and systematic military force after generations was made possible by the statures of Jabotinsky and Trumpeldor, and in combination with Patterson; it's crystal clear.
"This laid the foundations of the new Hebrew fighting force of modern times. Without this, of course, it is impossible to predict the rebirth of the Jewish people, because in the end, without an army, we would be wiped out.Today it's self-evident; once it was not self-evident."
According to Netanyahu, "These two great men: The combination of Jabotinsky's vision and Patterson's leadership created the tools for national rebirth.
"We are working to instill Patterson's contribution into Israel's consciousness for all generations.The step we are taking today is another step in this direction; a small step, but a step nevertheless.He made such a great contribution to our people - I think we are giving back just a little respect and gratitude they deserve," emphasized the Prime Minister.