The exhibition was sponsored at City Hall by Andrew Boff, Deputy Chair of the Greater London Authority. Andrew has served on the London Assembly since 2008 and has long been engaged in public service across the capital. His support reflects a shared commitment to recognising the contribution of community organisations to London’s civic life.
Located in the ‘London’s Living Room’ event space, offering wonderful views of the Royal Docks, the exhibition benefited from strong visibility throughout the day. It featured AJEX pull-ups and historic artefacts including medals, the British Jewry Book of Honour, the Record of Honour, and a wartime prayer book written by the Chief Rabbinate. The presentation also highlighted the vital role of women in service, including the story of Sue Warner, alongside promotional materials and a rolling on-screen presentation outlining AJEX’s work and the proud history of British Jewish military service. Together, these elements told the powerful story of Jewish service and sacrifice and the enduring contribution of the Jewish community to British public life.
The exhibition provided a valuable opportunity to engage with Assembly Members, staff and visitors who spent time exploring the materials. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, visited the exhibition and viewed the artefacts and accompanying information. He showed particular interest in the medals and spent time looking through the British Jewry Book of Honour, learning about Jewish service during the First World War. AJEX Stanmore Branch Lead and Trustee Jonathan Kober also shared the story of his grandfather’s service, which the Mayor listened to with great interest. They further discussed the service of Mervyn Kersh as part of AJEX’s wider history of honour and sacrifice.
The story of National Chair Jon Tyler’s father, Lt Cdr Alan Tyler, was also featured as part of the exhibition. As the last surviving Royal Navy veteran of the Second World War, his service formed part of the wider narrative of Jewish contribution across generations.
National Chair Jon Tyler said:
“The stories of Jewish military history, of our community, of London and of our nation are inextricably linked. So it was a great honour to be able to showcase Jewish service to Crown and Country in City Hall. We are particularly grateful to Sir Sadiq Khan for taking the time to visit and discuss AJEX’s work. And a special thank you to Andrew Boff AM, Deputy Chair of the GLA, for sponsoring our presence today.”
Chief Executive Fiona Palmer added:
“The exhibition was a proud moment for AJEX, bringing our history, our mission and our community into City Hall and ensuring that the contribution of Jewish servicemen and women continues to be recognised at the very centre of London’s civic life.”
The exhibition formed part of AJEX’s ongoing work to promote awareness of Jewish military service and heritage.
