Gregory Kunin

Russian spelling Григорий Кунин (Кункин)
Born 1894
Place Volozhin, Belarus
Ethnic origin Jewish
Religion Jewish
Mother Basia Kunkin
Contacts

Friend of Ben Goffin

Arrived at Australia from London, England
on 19.04.1914
per Port Macquarie
disembarked at Melbourne
Residence before enlistment Melbourne
Occupation Carpenter, joiner, seaman
Naturalisation Served as Russian subject

Service #1

Service number 5043
Enlisted 23.02.1916
Place of enlistment Carlton, Victoria
Unit 22nd Battalion
Rank Private
Place Western Front, 1916-1917
Final fate KIA 18.09.1917
Cemetery 112 Hooge Crater Cemetery Zillebeke, Belgium

Materials

Blog article

Russian

English

Newspaper articles

Victorian news. - Hebrew Standard of Australasia, Sydney, 7 July 1916, p. 11.

Publications

Елена Говор, Белорусские Анзаки. - Białoruskie Zeszyty Historyczne, 2013, no. 40, c. 53-108.

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Gregory Kunin, a Byelorussian who enlisted as a carpenter and seaman, was on outpost duty in a pill-box at Westhoek Ridge. He and nine other men were killed on the eve of the advance when 'An H.E. shell exploded on top of the pill box', according to his comrades: '... we dug out three bodies, those of Kunin, Cox and L/Cpl Northcote and the unrecognisable remains of the others, the men having been blown to pieces'. They were buried together with a cross over their grave, even though Kunin was a Jew. Ben Goffin, another Russian Jewish serviceman, enlisted and served with Kunin, of whom he wrote: 'He was a little dark fellow, full set, black curly hair. He was a great friend of mine.'

Gallery

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