Raymond Dodge (“Lofty”), a soldier who was serving in the 6th Division of the British Mandate Forces, together with three others from his unit, deserted at the beginning of May 1948 and joined the 9th Battalion of the Palmach Hanegev.
On June 3rd, 1948, Lofty’s unit participated in a general attack on the Egyptian forces in the area of Ashdod, where a tough battle developed with the 9th Battalion, which resulted in many dead and wounded. At first light they were compelled to withdraw across 5 kilometers of sand dunes in order to attend to their wounded, but had to leave the dead behind, amongst them Raymond, who was killed in a brief, fatal exchange of fire.
He left behind a brother living in Australia.
Prepared by Joe Woolf