William George Averkoff

Russian spelling Василий Сергеевич Аверков
Born 1896 (information in service records) or 1898 (information from the relatives)
Place Moscow, Russia (information fron his relatives) or Vladivostok, Russia (service records)
Ethnic origin Russian
Religion Roman Catholic (probably Russian Orthodox)
Father Sergius Averkoff
Mother Annie Averkoff (née Goozieff)
Arrived at Australia from Far East with parents and siblings
on 13.11.1910
per Nikko Maru
disembarked at Brisbane
Residence before enlistment Innisfail, Qld
Occupation Book binder
Naturalisation father naturalised 1913

Service #1

Service number 2124
Enlisted 25.03.1916
Place of enlistment Townsville
Unit 47th Battalion
Rank Private
Place Western Front, 1916-1917
Final fate KIA 7.06.1917
Cemetery 168 Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium

Materials

Blog articles

Russian Anzacs blog (Russian)

Russian Anzacs blog (English)

Anzac Diversity, educational resource (AWM)

Newspaper articles

A command obeyed. - Cairns Post, 10 August 1911, p. 4.

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

William George Averkoff added two years onto his real age of 18 years, and joined up, despite having just become the family breadwinner. In 1910 his family, which included the 12-year-old William and his six younger brothers and sisters, had come to Australia, but in 1915 his father died in an accident, leaving William, then working as a bookbinder, to support the large family. William never returned from the war.

Gallery

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