Russian AnzacsSchija Fels
| Alias | Charles Schiya Fels |
|---|---|
| Born | 9.06.1889 |
| Place | Warsaw, Poland |
| Ethnic origin | Jewish |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Father | Saul Fels |
| Mother | Wilhelmina (Wichta) nee Chvat |
| Family | Wife Vera Fels, born Russia ca 1907, Australian couturie trading as Germaine Rocher |
| Residence before arrival at Australia | Served in the Russian Army for 1 year; in 1907 came to Antwerp, Belgium |
| Arrived at Australia |
from France on 30.12.1912 per Sydney disembarked at Sydney |
| Residence before enlistment | Sydney |
| Occupation | 1914 diamond cutter, 1938 manufacturer, 1952 costumier |
| Naturalisation | 1919 |
| Residence after the war | Sydney, Shanghai, USA, England, France, Sydney from 1934 |
| Died | 19.06.1952, Sydney |
Service #1
| Service number | 1126 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 3.11.1914 |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, NSW |
| Unit | 13th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Gallipoli, 1915 |
| Casualties | WIA 1915 |
| Final fate | RTA 8.10.1915 |
| Discharged | 26.04.1916 MU |
Service #2
| Enlisted | 13.12.1916 left for England to enlist in Royal Flying Corps, was rejected as medically unfit and employed by the Department of Military Intelligence |
|---|
Materials
Digitised naturalisation (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)
Pay history card (NAA)
Alien registration (NAA)
Biographical file (AWM) (includes clipping from 'Sun' 1934 with photo)
Application for admission of relatives and friends 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (NAA)
Blog article
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Schija Fels, the diamond cutter whom we last saw severely wounded at Bloody Angle, was discharged in Australia after his Gallipoli experience but then went to England on his own initiative. There, he first tried to enlist in the Royal Flying Corps but was rejected as medically unfit; he then managed to get a post in British military intelligence, where he served until the end of the war.
Newspaper articles
Arrivals by the Moldavia today. - Sun, 8 February 1934, p. 40.
Smart Parisienne. - The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 February 1934, p. 5.
Of sealing-wax, cabbages and kings. - Daily Telegraph, Sydney, 9 February 1934, p. 4.
Sheila Scotter. A man about the house. - The Australian Women's Weekly, 8 February 1978, p. 73
Gallery
Schija Fels, upon arrival to Sydney in 1934
(Sun, 8 February 1934, p. 40)