Russian AnzacsBoleslav Boryss
| Russian spelling | Болеслав Борис |
|---|---|
| Born | 4.04.1888 |
| Place | Warsaw, Poland |
| Ethnic origin | Polish |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Mother | Maria Boryss |
| Family | Wife Barbara Boryss (née Naritz), born in Smolensk, married 1932; stepson George Serge Boryss |
| Residence before arrival at Australia | Served in the Russian Army |
| Arrived at Australia |
from India on 5.10.1912 per Ziben disembarked at Fremantle, WA |
| Residence before enlistment | Mornington Mill, WA |
| Occupation | 1915 fitter, mill-hand, 1930 engineer, 1933 fitter, 1936 second-hand dealer, 1943 fitter |
| Naturalisation | 1915 |
| Residence after the war | 1921 Melbourne, 1928 Yarraville, Vic., 1932, 1939 Sydney |
| Died | 17.11.1972, Sydney |
Service #1
| Service number | 15 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 26.03.1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Blackboy Hill, WA |
| Unit | 28th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Gallipoli, 1915; Western Front, 1916 |
| Casualties | WIA 1916 |
| Final fate | RTA 14.01.1917 |
| Discharged | 16.07.1917 MU |
Materials
Naturalisation (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM) (Baryss)
Application for admission of relatives (NAA)
Security service file (NAA)
Blog article
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Anyone who sounded foreign enough was in danger of being targeted in these times [WWII], including Russians. What happened to Boleslav Boryss, who had served his country and been severely wounded at Pozières, was not an isolated instance. Boryss had a second-hand shop along Oxford Street, Paddington, in Sydney. One of his neighbours alerted police that she had heard a Morse code apparatus going at his premises and also that, when looking in his shop window, she had noticed a 'press set up with material ready for printing'. The policeman sent to investigate reported that the press 'appears to be an old chest of drawers' and commented that the informer 'has allowed her imagination to run away with her'.
Gallery
Boleslav Boryss
State Library of Western Australia