Jewish War Heroes #3

Born in Europe in 1900, David Croll immigrated to Canada as a young boy and worked his way up from selling newspapers to owning his own newsstand, eventually earning his law degree in 1925. His rise continued when he became the first Jewish mayor of an Ontario city—Windsor—in 1930, and later the first Canadian Jewish minister of the Crown, serving in labor and public welfare roles. During World War II, Croll left his political positions to enlist and ultimately rose through the military ranks to colonel while also representing Toronto-Spadina in the House of Commons.

Major Benjamin Dunkelman earned the Distinguished Service Order for his extraordinary bravery during the clearance of Balberger Wald on March 5, 1945. When enemy machine gun fire pinned down his platoons, Dunkelman seized a PIAT gun and neutralized the opposing positions, personally accounting for numerous enemy casualties to secure the road. This gripping biographical account captures the decisive action that defined a Toronto-born officer's wartime heroism.

Flight Lieutenant William Henry Nelson's path to the Royal Air Force began with a childhood passion for model aircraft and took him from Montreal across the Atlantic to join the RAF in 1936, where he eventually became a valued member of the first bomber squadron to fly over enemy territory. When war erupted, Nelson's keen eye and quick reporting of enemy balloon barrages earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross and the distinction of being the first Canadian Jew to receive that honor during the conflict. His story is one of determination overcoming obstacles and service driven by courage.

Petty Officer Max Abramson served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, joining in 1927 and seeing action across multiple wartime campaigns—from the capture of a German armed merchantman off South America in 1940 to his crucial role aboard HMCS St. Croix in 1942. His meticulous maintenance of the ship's depth charges proved instrumental during intense anti-submarine operations, earning him recognition for his contribution to naval combat efforts.