Russian AnzacsMatti Harsila
| Born | 12.09.1874 |
|---|---|
| Place | Lapua, Vaasa, Finland |
| Ethnic origin | Finnish |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Father | Salmon Harsila |
| Arrived at Australia |
from Finland via London on 9.09.1915 per Port Phillip disembarked at Adelaide |
| Residence before enlistment | Adelaide |
| Occupation | 1915 seaman, 1925 labourer |
| Naturalisation | 1926 |
| Residence after the war | Adelaide, 1919 - 1922 Finland, Halifax, Cairns, Brisbane, Cooktown, Innisfail, Ingham, Tully, Maroochy River, Granite Creek, Brisbane |
| Died | 1966, Qld |
Service #1
| Service number | 2344 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 20.09.1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Adelaide |
| Unit | 32nd Battalion, 48th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Western Front, 1916-1917 |
| Casualties | WIA 1916, 1917; POW 1917 |
| Final fate | RTA 5.03.1919 |
| Discharged | 10.6.1919 |
Materials
Digitised naturalisation (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)
POW statement (AWM)
Digitised Red Cross wounded and missing file (AWM)
Red Cross POW file (AWM)
South Australian Red Cross Information Bureau file
Blog article
Newspaper articles
Pinned under cane truck. - Nambour Chronicle and North Coast Advertiser, 20 October 1944, p. 6.
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Hjalmar Karhu, a Finnish former seaman from Western Australia, gave his account of what he called 'the first "stunt" at Bullecourt' [1917], in which he was wounded as he tried to retreat. 'We reached the second line of enemy trenches. "Fritz" counter-attacked us and our bombs ran short. Our chaps were retreating, and I tried to get back to our lines.' The wounded Karhu was captured by the Germans. Another four Russians were also captured on the same day: three other Finns -- Matti Harsila, Konrat Troyle and Frans Fredrikson -- and Charles Reppe, from Riga, who was one of the first Russians to enlist.