Номер объектаM2021/005:003
Создатель Mike Lewis
ОписаниеCollection of four drawings, ink on paper, by Sergeant Mike Lewis of his fellow servicemen c. 1940 - 1945. Each drawing features the head portrait of a man, though the identities of the servicemen are unknown and the works are unsigned. The drawings are simple, with strong lines and accentuated detail around the eyes.
These works are part of a larger collection of 94 artworks produced by the amateur Jewish artist during his service, which culminated in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. Mike served with the Royal Fusiliers, the 1st Parachute Brigade and the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU) attached to the 11th Armoured Division as they moved into Belsen. Mike captured the faces if not the names of many of these liberators.
Mike Lewis (born Colman Michael Wiessenberg) was the son of Polish Jews who had come to London before the First World War. Mike was interested in art from a young age, and for a time was able to attend art school at night while balancing various clerical jobs.
Mike was called up in 1940 and joined the Royal Fusiliers, but volunteered for the Parachute regiment in December 1941 to escape the boring routine of Infantry. He successfully passed through the tough parachute training course, despite a fear of heights and the bets placed against him by some of his peers who did not think he had the courage to jump because he was Jewish.
Mike said of the men of the 1st Parachute Brigade: "Every regiment in the army appeared to have volunteers; it was a regional mix with the voices to match... there were some who were surprised that I was Jewish; not having known any Jews, I did not accord with their mythology of a Jew, hooked nose, sallow complexion and greasy ringlets of hair..."
He served in several engagements with the 2nd Parachute Battalion against the Afrika Corps in Algiers and was wounded in the arms and legs. After hospitalisation in Tunis, Mike joined the newly formed AFPU in Algiers when he heard they were setting up an Airborne Section. He took part in the airborne invasion of Sicily, but his plane was hit by flak and returned to the UK. In September 1944, he went on to cover the battle for the bridge at Arnhem, The Netherlands, re-joining his comrades from the Parachute Brigade. He was one of the few to escape.
The following year he was sent to cover the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp from 15-26 April 1945. He was a member of the flying column that pushed beyond the battle lines to occupy Denmark. After the war, Mike went on to work as a news cameraman for the BBC until his retirement. He died in Australia on 8 April 1986.
The Sydney Jewish Museum also holds hundreds of other photographs, documents, artworks and objects that formed the personal archive of Mike Lewis.
These works are part of a larger collection of 94 artworks produced by the amateur Jewish artist during his service, which culminated in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in April 1945. Mike served with the Royal Fusiliers, the 1st Parachute Brigade and the Army Film and Photographic Unit (AFPU) attached to the 11th Armoured Division as they moved into Belsen. Mike captured the faces if not the names of many of these liberators.
Mike Lewis (born Colman Michael Wiessenberg) was the son of Polish Jews who had come to London before the First World War. Mike was interested in art from a young age, and for a time was able to attend art school at night while balancing various clerical jobs.
Mike was called up in 1940 and joined the Royal Fusiliers, but volunteered for the Parachute regiment in December 1941 to escape the boring routine of Infantry. He successfully passed through the tough parachute training course, despite a fear of heights and the bets placed against him by some of his peers who did not think he had the courage to jump because he was Jewish.
Mike said of the men of the 1st Parachute Brigade: "Every regiment in the army appeared to have volunteers; it was a regional mix with the voices to match... there were some who were surprised that I was Jewish; not having known any Jews, I did not accord with their mythology of a Jew, hooked nose, sallow complexion and greasy ringlets of hair..."
He served in several engagements with the 2nd Parachute Battalion against the Afrika Corps in Algiers and was wounded in the arms and legs. After hospitalisation in Tunis, Mike joined the newly formed AFPU in Algiers when he heard they were setting up an Airborne Section. He took part in the airborne invasion of Sicily, but his plane was hit by flak and returned to the UK. In September 1944, he went on to cover the battle for the bridge at Arnhem, The Netherlands, re-joining his comrades from the Parachute Brigade. He was one of the few to escape.
The following year he was sent to cover the liberation of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp from 15-26 April 1945. He was a member of the flying column that pushed beyond the battle lines to occupy Denmark. After the war, Mike went on to work as a news cameraman for the BBC until his retirement. He died in Australia on 8 April 1986.
The Sydney Jewish Museum also holds hundreds of other photographs, documents, artworks and objects that formed the personal archive of Mike Lewis.
Дата 1940 - 1945
Наименованиеdrawings
Размерность
- all approx. width: 220.00 mm
all approx. height: 240.00 mm
Кредитная линияSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Helen Lewis
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.