Robert Luss

Cook, S.S. Har Zion
Died 31 Aug 1940
Commemorated at Tower Hill Memorial
Age 36


Robert was born on 27 November 1903 in Eschwege, Hesse in Germany to Jakub and Johanna nee Rothschild. He immigrated to Israel on 27 March 1935 and met his future wife, German born, Helene Erlanger. They married in Israel on 5 April 1936.

Robert enlisted as a ships cook on the S.S. Har Zion on 14 January 1937 and worked on the ship until 16 September 1939. The couple then applied for Palestinian citizenship which was granted to them on 28 January 1940. Robert rejoined the S.S. Har Zion and was killed a few months later.

At 06.15 hours on 31 August 1940, the ship left Liverpool with 1000 cases of spirit and 120 tons of fertiliser to travel to the USA. The Har Zion was attacked by U-boat, U-38 which fired two torpedoes amidships and ship sank north west of Ireland. The master and thirty five crew were killed.

Courtesy Israel State Archives