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In memory of those who have Crossed the Bar
KUTCHER, Jack - Jack was born (Israel Eliezer) on the 27th March 1920 to Harry and Rosie Kutcher in Hackney, London.
He left school at the age of 16 to pursue a career in photography, but this was cut short suffering from continuous conjunctivitis due to the chemicals used to process the films.
After several attempts to join the Armed forces with the outbreak of WW2 and passing his medical exam with Grade 1 in March 1940 he was finally enlisted in the British Navy for Boom Defence at HMS Pembroke IV as an Ordinary Seaman in July where he began his training.
Jack continued with photography during his active service. He married Celia Smith on 15 Jan 1946 - not long before being demobilized in Apr 1946.
Jack started a Film Magazine and Book Club in 1947 that was cut short by the paper shortage and restriction in the UK in the 1940s.
Jack and Celia moved to Swansea, Wales in 1948 - initially to work with David Smith & Co. in Neath, but shortly after opened a Toy Shop in Swansea until 1971 when he and Celia moved to settle in Israel.
Jack died on 02 December 2002 at the age of 82. Celia died on 15 April 2015 at the age of 95. Jack and Celia had 5 children: Peter, Jeff, David, Elizabeth and Paul
Remembered by his children
" Thank you Dad from all of us for leaving a wonderful treasure box of memories. I refer to all the photos and videos you amassed during your life. Now that treasure has been passed down to all the children, grandchildren and generations to come. I see a photo of you at age 17 standing before the pyramids. It says it all about you. We miss you "
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"I remember my dad with love, gratitude,laughter and cherish the memories he left behind.. Miss you dad xx "
˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ "Jack loved the sea and wherever he lived it was always by the seaside, even in his later years in Israel. He was a gentleman and a man of his word. He taught us work ethics. He was a healer and helped a lot of people "
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"Jack taught us a set of values, not by preaching them to us, but by being a living example of them to us. I didn't realize this until after he had passed on and started to question where my values came from and started to trace them back to our family upbringing & the home environment. So much unspoken, yet had a lifelong impact."
˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ Ships served in: HMS PEMBROKE IV - Enlisted in the RNVR as an Ordinary Seaman Jul 1940 HMT STAR OF THE REALM - Drafted to STAR OF THE REALM Oct 1940 for Boom defence operations. HMS COLLINGWOOD - Selected for Officer Training at HMS COLLINGWOOD Jan 1941 RNB PORTSMOUTH - Drafted to Royal Navy Base Portsmouth, H.M.S. Victory Mar 1941, where he remained for some months on duty 'removing debris, mutilated bodies & furniture from bombed out houses, & coaling ships or on firewatch'. * Rated Able Seaman, RNVR Apr 1941 HMS FISHGUARD (former USCGC Tahoe) - Drafted to FISHGUARD May 1941 for convoy duties to and from West Africa and in the Atlantic. FISHGUARD operated out of HMS FERRET, Londonderry, NI HMS KING ALFRED - Drafted to KING ALFRED (RN Officer Training School) Dec 1941 which included training for Motor Torpedo boats and gunnery. * Appointed Sub-Lieutenant (Temporary), RNVR Mar 1942 HMCS STADACONA - Appointed to STADACONA for duty with Fairmiles 06 Jul 1942 (Canadian Navy List Sep 1942) ML Q072 - Jack served in ML Q072 with Doug Howard as skipper for a brief period while his ship was under construction in Montreal. (See page 5 of Jack's wartime diary). HM ML266 - Appointed to ML266 Jan 1943 operating out of Royal Navy Base Takoradi, Gold Coast Africa as First Lieutenant for Motor Launches for protection of Convoys. * Returned to UK for further training and operational experience in 'D' class MTBs Jun 1944 HMS MTB 768 - Appointed to MTB 768 as First Lieutenant. MTB 768 was part of the 53rd MTB Flotilla * Demobilized Apr 1946 * Awarded the 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star Ribbon and The War Medal 1939-45
JK000 (JK000) 15 Jan 1946: Marriage to Celia Smith in Marylebone, London
(JK001) Jack Kutcher at HMS PEMBROKE (JK002) Jack's service file as a rating (JK003) Jack's service file as an officer (JK004) Jack's wartime diary - Jack's time at HMCS STADACONA and ML Q072 are recorded on pages 4 and 5 of his diary
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