Dunkelman, Benjamin "Ben"

Date of birth:: June 26th, 1913 (Toronto/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: June 11th, 1997 (Toronto/Ontario, Canada)
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Promotions:
?: Private;
?: acting Major.

Career:
?: The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada;
?: Commanding Officer, Company D, The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada;
?: Commanding Officer, Mortar Unit, Mahal;
1948: Commanding Officer, 7th Brigade, Israeli Defence Forces;

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Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Major
Unit:: "D" Company, 1st Battalion The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, British Army
Awarded on:: June 16th, 1945

Captain (Acting Major) Benjamin Dunkelman was Company Commander of “D” Company, 1st Battalion The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada on 4 March 1945. On that date this battalion was given the task of clearing the Balberger Wald, east of the north-south road and south of the grid line 39. “D” Company, under the command of Major Dunkelman, had the task of clearing the southern edges of the woods. Upon crossing the road which was the start line, the forward two platoons of “D” Company were immediately pinned down by intense machine gun and “bazooka” fire from the area of the edge of the clearing from 052382. The casualties suffered by these platoons were heavy, and due to the nature of the ground and the intense fire of the enemy, our troops were unable to press forward. Major Dunkelman picked up a PIAT gun, whose crew had been killed and successfully silenced two of the enemy machine guns, then, rushing forward, led the remaining platoon into the attack upon the enemy positions.
Major Dunkelman personally killed ten of the enemy with his pistol and with his bare hands, all the time shouting to his men to press forward and to the enemy to “come out and fight”. As a result of this gallant action and display of fearlessness, in the face of enemy fire, the platoon pressed home the attack and drove the enemy out of this area of the wood. “D” Company was then able to proceed and fight on to their final objective.
The display of leadership, the coolness under fire, and the fighting qualities shown by Major Dunkelman, struck fear into the heart of the enemy, and those that could, fled from the scene of the action.
This gallant action on the of Major Dunkelman was directly responsible for “D” Company successfully taking their objective, and the clearing of the final objective by the battalion.

LG 37138/3235.