Prayer Book for Jewish sailors and soldiers, owned by Louis Shrifreen
Object numberM2006/067
TitlePrayer Book for Jewish sailors and soldiers, owned by Louis Shrifreen
CreatorH.M. Stationery Office (printer)
DescriptionPrayer book for Jewish sailors and soldiers' which belonged to Louis Shrifreen. Inside front pages include handwritten list of 89 locations including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Beersheba, Gaza Ridge and Tripoli.
Louis was born in London, England on 20 September 1894 of Russian parentage. He served in the Middle East in both World Wars. During World War I he joined the Worcester Yeomanry of the British Army. He enlisted for World War II in Sydney on 15 May 1941. He listed his age as 44, two years younger than what he actually was in order to be eligible for overseas service. Due to his proficiency with languages, speaking German, French, Russian, Hebrew, Yiddish and Arabic, he served with Australian Imperial Force headquarters in Egypt, Palestine and Syria, acting as court-martial reporter and interpreter.
He returned to Australia in 1942 and was attached to the Legal Office at Victoria Barracks as a court reporter and was promoted to Warrant Officer I. He was discharged from the Army in 1952 on the grounds of age and went on to obtain a clerical job with the Department of Public Works where he stayed for ten years.
Louis was also a musical composer and arranger. In November 1931, he presided over a meeting at the Maccabean Hall which decided to establish a Jewish Musical Society. In 1932 he produced and conducted Wallace's opera Maritana, which ran for three nights at the Maccabean Hall.
Louis and his wife, Thelma, had two sons. He passed away in 1968 and is buried in the Jewish Military section of Rookwood Cemetery.
Louis was born in London, England on 20 September 1894 of Russian parentage. He served in the Middle East in both World Wars. During World War I he joined the Worcester Yeomanry of the British Army. He enlisted for World War II in Sydney on 15 May 1941. He listed his age as 44, two years younger than what he actually was in order to be eligible for overseas service. Due to his proficiency with languages, speaking German, French, Russian, Hebrew, Yiddish and Arabic, he served with Australian Imperial Force headquarters in Egypt, Palestine and Syria, acting as court-martial reporter and interpreter.
He returned to Australia in 1942 and was attached to the Legal Office at Victoria Barracks as a court reporter and was promoted to Warrant Officer I. He was discharged from the Army in 1952 on the grounds of age and went on to obtain a clerical job with the Department of Public Works where he stayed for ten years.
Louis was also a musical composer and arranger. In November 1931, he presided over a meeting at the Maccabean Hall which decided to establish a Jewish Musical Society. In 1932 he produced and conducted Wallace's opera Maritana, which ran for three nights at the Maccabean Hall.
Louis and his wife, Thelma, had two sons. He passed away in 1968 and is buried in the Jewish Military section of Rookwood Cemetery.
Production placeEngland
Production date 1941-06-10
Object nameprayer books
Dimensions
- height: 155.00 mm
width: 105.00 mm
Language
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Louis Shifreen