Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of  Abraham and Esther KOZMINSKY, of Burnett Street, St. Kilda, Vic.

DEATH OF LIEUT. M. E. KOZMINSKY.
To the list of the members of our community who have fallen in the war we have sorrowfully to add yet another name, that of Lt. Maurice Edward Kozminsky, a respected member of the St. Kilda Hebrew Congregation, who met his death, at the age of thirty-two, from wounds received while bravely discharging the highest duty of a patriot on the field of  battle in France. We shall never again look upon his familiar and pleasant countenance, but his memory will be enshrined in the glorious record of the loyal-spirits and steadfast hearts who have laid down their lives' for the most sacred of causes.

Lieut. Kozminsky, who was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Kozminsky, of Barnett street, St. Kilda, received his early education at the Scotch and Geelong Colleges, and  subsequently continued his studies at the Wesley College. While at the latter in stitution he passed the matriculation examination of the University of Melbourne. In his schooldays he evinced considerable interest in athletics, having been one of the Wesley eight-oar winning crow in the Public Schools boat races, and throughout his life he was a prominent and enthusiastic devotee of every branch of sport. He began his business career in the well-known firm of D. and W. Murray, of Flinders Lane, where he worked himself up to a  responsible position. Subsequently he became connected with the Austral Hat Mills Ltd., and advanced to the position of director in that company, which he held till his enrolment  in the Expeditionary Forces. Originally he enlisted as a private, But he was promoted to a Lieutenancy after having qualified himself for a commission at the officers' school of  instruction. He sailed last March with the Expeditionary Forces to Egypt, and was afterwards, transferred to the fighting line in France, where he found a soldier's grave.

The deceased was a member of the Commercial Travellers' Club, the Amateur Sports Club, and the Masonic fraternity, and every where his genial disposition won for him troops of friends. When the news of his death was made public, the Commercial Travellers' Club flew its flag half-mast out of respect to his memory. A very large number of messages of  sympathy were, sent to his bereaved parents by prominent citizens, among them the Premier, the President of the Legislative Council, several Federal Ministers, the Lord Mayor  and Lady Mayoress, and other well-known leading personages. Mr. and Mrs. A. Kozminsky's youngest son, Clifford, has also joined the forces, and is now in camp.

At the St.  Kilda Synagogue last Sabbath the Rev. J. Danglow, M A., delivered an eloquent and touching memorial address, pointing out the noble example of heroic devotion, to  duty set by the young man who gave up his all in the service of the best ideals of patriotism and humanity. Such actions constituted the light of hope shining through the dark clouds that enveloped us. In the midst of mourning we might well exclaim, in the words of the day's Haphtorah, "Arise, shine ; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee."