A Tribute to the late Dr. H. S. Segerman

Captain Henry S. Segerman, R.A.M.C., was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. S. Segerman, a well respected Orthodox family in Middlesbrough.

He lost his life during a battle at El Alamein at the early age of twenty-nine, while serving as a Regimental Medical Officer to the Royal Tank Regiment.

It was on July 16th, 1943, when his unit went into a fierce battle. Dr. Segerman went forward in a small car to assist with the wounded.

On the way a shell burst in front of the car, and the car itself went into the hole, thus becoming stuck. He got out of his car to seek help and was then killed instantly by an Italian sniper.

Dr. Segerman took his Medical degree, M.B., Ch.B., at the Leeds University, and followed this with a course of Tropical Medicine at Liverpool. When the course of the war made it obvious that there was going to be a fierce struggle in the neighbourhood of Palestine, he volunteered for service in the Middle East.

It is difficult to put into cold print the feelings for one who has not only given his life for his King and Country, but has also worked every spare moment for the realisation of the .Jewish National Home in Palestine. His legacies of work for the Young Zionist Society HABONIM and HECHALUTZ are proof of his absolute loyalty and devotion for Zion.

Of the many letters of tribute received by the relatives, all of which give the highest praise for his zeal and work for those who needed his help, there is one from Major S. Rabinovitz, Senior Jewish Chaplain, M.E.F.. He writes:

“I was on terms of intimate friendship with him, and I learnt to appreciate to the full his sterling character and noble qualities. The news has come as a great shock to me, and with a keen sense, personal loss not only to me but to the many friends whom he had made in the Middle East. A staunch Jew, a fervent Zionist, he exercised a profound influence for good on all the Jewish soldiers with whom he came into contact, and was universally popular in all the unit in which he was.”

And in conclusion we quote from the HABONIM Journal of AV 1943, in tribute..

“He was a British Captain, but it was as a Jewish CHALUTZ that he fell in the defence of ERETZ ISRAEL, and we are happy that Henry (SHMARYA) saw the land and visited the settlements so frequently before he fell.”

G. WULWIK.