Dimitry Chepurnoff

Russian spelling

Дмитрий Дмитриевич Чепурнов

Born 23.10.1891

Place Andreevka, Penza, Russia

Ethnic origin Russian

Religion Roman Catholic (?)

Mother Marie Chepurnoff

Arrived at Australia
from Russia via Moji
on 19.01.1914
per Eastern
disembarked at Cairns

Residence before enlistment Darwin, Melbourne

Occupation Labourer (former clerk)

Service
service number 4767
enlisted 6.12.1915
POE Melbourne
unit 14th Battalion, 46th Battalion
rank Private
place Western Front, 1916-1917
casualties WIA 1916, 1917
final fate RTA 27.08.1917
discharged 28.11.1917

Naturalisation Served as Russian subject

Residence after the war 1918 left for Russia; 1938 Ruzaevka, Mordovia. Arrested 13.01.1938, sentenced for 3 years

Died Arrested 11.07.1941, convicted 03.09.1941 and executed at Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan

Materials

Alien registration (NAA)

Digitised service records (NAA)

Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)

Personal case file (NAA)

Intelligence case file (NAA)

Blog article

Russian

English

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Dmitry Chepurnoff, a former clerk from central Russia, [had] developed some obscure illness while recovering at Harefield Hospital in England from his second wound. Eventually he was sent to camp, reclassified as fit for active service and put on physical training. He told the instructor that he 'was unable to carry on', but was put under arrest, to be court-martialled. Chepurnoff wrote to the only person he knew, Dr Parkinson from the hospital, pleading for help and ended his letter by saying, 'In case you should have any trouble in remembering my case I am the Russian patient which you took such a great interest in & I feel greatly indebted to you for your great kindness'. The doctor did intervene, writing to the commanding officer and suggesting an enquiry be held into Chepurnoff's case, adding: 'I think there is a possibility that some injustice may have arisen in the case'. He also said about his former patient: 'He is a Russian and it is very difficult to understand his English'. A month later Chepurnoff was embarked for Australia as medically unfit.