Daniel-reuben coussins
The son of Tuvia (Thomas) and Esther, born 24.7.1926 in Jerusalem. Finished high school at a young age and joined the Palmach. From the Palmach he was enlisted into the British army and from whence he joined the Jewish Brigade when it was established. Daniel Reuben took part in the war against the Nazis and saving refugees from the camps.
On the completion of his military service he returned to Palestine, completed his high school education and passed his exams. Danny then joined the Poria commune in the Lower Galilee where he became the security officer and commander. At the beginning of the War of Independence, after the UN partition declaration on 29.11.47, he was driving Lorries in dangerous areas and was arrested by the British for possessing a weapon.
The day after the declaration of the State of Israel, on 15.5.1948, the Arab Legion and the Syrians invaded Israel. Danny was temporarily enlisted to defend the Jordan Valley. He took command of the section on the Tzemach front. Danny and his platoon fought bravely against superior forces and managed to survive. Minutes before he was killed he promised an injured colleague that he would see them all safely back to their camp. Daniel-Reuben was killed on 16.5.1948 by a bullet that struck him in the face, but the members of his platoon survived. He was laid to rest at the cemetery in Poria.
On 9.12.1965, by the request of his family, his remains were transferred to the military cemetery 0n Mount Herzl, Jerusalem.
Their only son Danny was the father of Fransji who now lives in her native Holland. We only found this out when Fransji contacted Craig to tell her story. Just after the war Danny was sent to Europe to recruit displaced Jews to come to Palestine ready for when it became Israel (they hoped). He met a Dutch woman (Fransji’s mother) and they had an affair. Unbeknownst to Danny (or his parents, who never knew) Fransji was the result. So this only son of Tommy and Esther actually had a granddaughter they never knew of. The line continues.