Atolf Aleksanter Aalto

Born 2.09.1893
Place Nystad (Uusikaupunki), Turku, Finland
Ethnic origin Finnish
Religion Lutheran
Father Atolf Aleksanters Aalto
Arrived at Australia from Sweden
on 26.12.1912
per Bertha
disembarked at Melbourne
Residence before enlistment Nar Nar Goon and Eaglehawk, Gippsland, Victoria
Occupation Miner
Naturalisation 1915

Service #1

Service number 3676
Enlisted 29.07.1915
Place of enlistment Bendigo, Vic
Unit 5th Battalion
Rank Private
Place Western Front, 1916-1918
Awards MM LG 21.10.1918
Final fate RTA 5.04.1919
Discharged 10.07.1919

Materials

Digitised naturalisation (NAA)

Digitised service records (NAA)

Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)

Digitised recommendation for award 1 2 3 4 (AWM)

Group portrait of B Company of the 5th Battalion with A.A. Aalto. E03936 (AWM)

Payfile (NAA)

Digitised personal case file (NAA)

Personal case file (NAA)

Blog articles

Russian Anzacs (Russian)

Russian Anzacs (English)

Atolf Aleksanter Aalto in Anzac Diversity, educational resource (AWM, no longer available)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

During the German attack near Strazeele on 14 June 1918 Aalto realised that his platoon's Lewis gun-post 'was depending on his protection of the flank, [and] ... continued to work with his gun, caused the enemy many casualties and prevented them from getting round the flank of the platoon post', wrote his commanding officer, adding the lively detail, 'After having fired 600 rounds his gun was red hot and stopped'.

Gallery

Map