Alexander Arn

Russian spelling Александр Францевич Арн
Born 17.08.1887
Place St Petersburg, Russia
Ethnic origin Russian / German?
Religion Russian Orthodox
Father Frank Arn
Arrived at Australia from Russian Far East
on 15.06.1911
per Empire
disembarked at Sydney
Residence before enlistment Sydney, Melbourne, Coolamon, NSW, Walbundrie NSW
Occupation Rabbiting at Walbundrie station, 1914 labourer, 1917, 1919 postal assistant, 1940s night steward, merchant seaman
Naturalisation 1914
Residence after the war 1940s British merchant navy
Died 9.07.1970 London

Service #1

Service number 911
Enlisted 28.08.1914
Place of enlistment Sydney
Unit 1st Battalion
Rank Private
Place Gallipoli, 1915
Casualties WIA 1915
Final fate RTA 8.10.1915
Discharged 18.08.1916

Service #2

Service number 2491
Enlisted 18.01.1917
Place of enlistment Sydney
Unit 2nd & 4th Camel Regiment (Camel Corps)
Rank Private
Place Egypt, Palestine, 1917-1919
Final fate RTA 3.03.1919
Discharged 18.09.1919

Service #3

Service number 86258
Enlisted 9.09.1919
Place of enlistment Sydney
Unit Special service
Rank Private
Place Egypt, 1919
Final fate RTA 30.12.1919
Discharged 26.03.1920

Materials

Blog article

Russian

English

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

The very first contingent [...] -- this First Fleet of the new Australian nationhood -- left Australian waters in early November 1914 with at least 12 Russians: the Finns Baer and Hiltunen, the ethnic Russians Arn, Kamishansky, Sast and Sindeeff, the Polish-born Markowicz and Watson, the Jews Zander and Levene, and the Russian-born Englishmen Ball and Dyson.

[...] Alexander Arn, came from a well-off St Petersburg family. Arn was one of the first of the Russians to enlist in the army and landed at Gallipoli with the 1st Battalion, where he lost fingers on his left hand. Having recovered in Australia, he re-enlisted and fought in Egypt as a cameleer.

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