Charles Reppe

Born 7.04.1882
Place Riga, Latvia
Ethnic origin Latvian
Religion Lutheran (WWI), Church of England (WWII)
Arrived at Australia from Bremen, Germany
on 10.06.1906
per Lothringen
disembarked at Albany, WA
Residence before enlistment Port Augusta, SA
Occupation 1914 ship's fireman, 1917 miner, 1940 prospector
Naturalisation served as naturalised British subject (naturalisation was not found)
Residence after the war Sydney, 1963 War Veterans Home, Yass, NSW
Died 1975 West Ryde, Sydney, NSW

Service #1

Service number 1210
Enlisted 21.09.1914
Place of enlistment Morphettville, SA
Unit 16th Battalion
Rank Private
Place Gallipoli, 1915; Western Front, 1916-1917
Casualties WIA 1915, 1916, 1917, POW 1917-1918
Final fate RTA 2.03.1919
Discharged 19.06.1919

Service #2 – WWII

Enlisted 1940
Unit 11 GB, 31 GB
Discharged 1944

Materials

Blog article

Russian

English

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Hjalmar Karhu, a Finnish former seaman from Western Australia, gave his account of what he called 'the first "stunt" at Bullecourt' [1917], in which he was wounded as he tried to retreat. 'We reached the second line of enemy trenches. "Fritz" counter-attacked us and our bombs ran short. Our chaps were retreating, and I tried to get back to our lines.' The wounded Karhu was captured by the Germans. Another four Russians were also captured on the same day: three other Finns -- Matti Harsila, Konrat Troyle and Frans Fredrikson -- and Charles Reppe, from Riga, who was one of the first Russians to enlist. Before being wounded and captured at Bullecourt, Reppe was wounded three times -- at Gallipoli (twice) and Mouquet Farm. None of that would prevent him taking ten years off his age and re-enlisting in the 2nd AIF, during the Second World War.

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