Meeting of the Australian Jewish Soldiers outside the YMCA's Jewish Soldiers Hut in London after World War One. (Australian War Memorial)

Jewish Anzacs

Sir John Monash is probably the most famous Jewish soldier in the history of the Australian armed forces.

In almost every battle that Australian troops have taken part in, there have been Jewish soldiers amongst them – from the war in Sudan in the 1880s to Australia’s continuing presence in Afghanistan.

Sometimes they have been hidden by anglicised names and not acknowledging their religion when they signed up.

Author Mark Dapin recounts some of their fascinating stories and their diverse reasons for signing up to go to war.

Listen to the interview with Mark Dapin on the ABC RN Sunday Extra program.