Charles Cepkouski
Alias Correct initial name: Kazimieras Cepkauskas; later used in Australia name Charles Capouski; Cepkonski
Russian spelling
Казимир Цепкаускас
Born 25.03.1891
Place Arlavishkis (Arlaviškes) near Kaunas, Lithuania
Ethnic origin Lithuanian
Religion Roman Catholic
Father Jurgis Cepkauskas
Mother Agnes Juociuke Cepkauskas
Family
Wife Marion Emily Capouski (nee Sanders), married in 1918 in Fremantle; children: Agnes (1919-1920), Marion, Ronald Joseph, Charles Thomas (1925-2012, served in WWII)
Residence before arrival at Australia Absconded from Russia at the age of 16 to avoid military service, 3 years in Berlin
Arrived at Australia
from Russia
on 1910
per Ragan or Argin
disembarked at Fremantle, WA
Residence before enlistment Perth, Kalgoorlie
Occupation Boot maker, labourer
Service 1 service number 412
enlisted 20.11.1914
POE Helena Vale, WA
unit 16th Battalion
rank Private
place Gallipoli, 1915
final fate RTA 6.08.1915
discharged 17.12.1915 MU
Service 2 (Home service)
enlisted 4.10.1916
POE WA
rank Corporal
discharged 16.01.1919
Naturalisation 1914
Residence after the war 1927 Kogarah, NSW, 1940 Newtown, NSW
Died 28.04.1960, Sydney
Materials
Naturalisation (NAA) (Capouski)
Digitised service records (NAA) (Cepkouski)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM) (Cepkonski)
Family Tree on Ancestry.com
Blog articles
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Charles Capouski, [a] former seaman, invalided to Australia after Gallipoli, did 'all sorts of casual work in Western Australia', his grandson Stan recalls. He later moved to Melbourne, where he tried to start a business, and in 1931 ended up in Sydney, by which time he was married with three children. 'Times were very hard for him here', Stan continues. 'He was very good at making things. He made a large hand-pulled cart and used to collect metal and things from around the streets and local tip to sell for money. He would also make his own batteries and radios. After the Depression he worked for the Water Sewerage And Drainage Board ... as the depth man digging ditches -- he received more money for this due to the higher risks.' It was a dangerous choice of occupation, for in 1937 'he was hit on the head by a 14 lb hammer dropped more than 10 feet from the top of the ditch'. Spending months in hospitals, he never fully recovered and later worked as a cleaner. Life became even harder when he separated from his wife. Stan laconically concludes: he 'had to sell many of his possessions to survive. Would do odd jobs for meals. Helped by his son Charles and brother-in-law Ed with money and food.' In 1960 he died.