Russian AnzacsCarl Edgar Collath
| Alias | Charles |
|---|---|
| Born | 14.04.1886 |
| Place | Talsen, Latvia |
| Ethnic origin | Latvian |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Father | Ivan Collath |
| Mother | Katherine Devereux |
| Family | Wife Alice Collath (née Penman), married 1919; children Phyllis, b. 1920; Alice, b. 1922; Lawrence Edgar, b.1924, served WWII; Constance, b. 1926 |
| Arrived at Australia |
from London on 09.1908 per Surry disembarked at Sydney |
| Residence before enlistment | Richmond, Vic, Campsie, NSW |
| Occupation | 1912 labourer, 1915 painter, 1930 railway employee |
| Naturalisation | 1912 |
| Residence after the war | Sydney |
| Died | 28.12.1948, Buried at Rookwood Necropolis Catholic Cemetery Grave No. 3368, Section 15. |
Service #1
| Service number | 3028 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 17.07.1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, NSW |
| Unit | 2nd Battalion, 54th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Western Front, 1916-1917 |
| Final fate | RTA 21.05.1918 |
| Discharged | 19.11.1918 |
Materials
Digitised naturalisation (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)
Family tree compiled by Brian Collath
Blog article
Newspaper articles
In loving memory of Sergeant Ernest J. Goodwin. - The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 September 1923, p. 13.
Man losses memory finds himself at Mt. Keira. - Illawara Mercury, 6 November 1936, p. 4.
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
In a few instances returning Russians married the girl-friends, widows or sisters of other Russian ex-servicemen -- Carl Collath's story is one example. His grandson sent me a photograph of his grandfather standing beside his best mate, who, according to family memories, 'was going out with a young lady named Alice Mary Penman (no one remembers his name though). He was unfortunately killed in action. When Carl Edgar Collath returned from the war, he made contact with this young lady, as he knew her well, to tell her the sad news. Subsequently, they must have hit it off because they married and became my grandparents.'
Gallery
Carl Collath (right) with his friend
Courtesy of Brian Collath