Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Jubilee 1935 (Cadet Lieut-Colonel A. B. Solomon, Birmingham Cadet Corps J.L.B.) extremely fine £40-60

The Jewish Lads’ Brigade was founded in 1895 by Albert Edward Goldsmid, a self-declared ‘nationalist Jew’ and the British Chief of ‘Chovevi Zion’. As a Zionist Anglophile, he made a successful career as a staff officer in the British Army. Whilst Colonel at Cardiff he inspected the local Church Lads’ Brigade and commented that something similar should be arranged for Jewish lads. His aim was to help poor Jewish boys particularly between the time they left school and the time they could join Jewish Working Mens’ Clubs. A lasting function of the Brigade was to facilitate cultural integration. Members of the Brigade served with distinction in the Boer and First and Second World Wars. In 1974 the J.L.B. joined with the Jewish Girls’ Brigade to form the ‘Jewish Lads and Girls’ Brigade’.

Lieutenant-Colonel Archie B. Solomon was the Officer Commanding the Jewish Lads’ Brigade (Birmingham Cadet Corps) - which was affiliated to the 5th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Sold with the Birmingham Cadet Corps Jewish Lads’ Brigade 18th Annual Report, 1922-23, in which Major Solomon is mentioned; also with other copied research on the recipient and the organisation..