Alexis Kazakoff

Alias Kazakoff (naturalisation); Kasakoff, Kosakoff, Kazenkoff, Kazerkoff (WWI service records); Kozakoff (court martial records), his signatures are Kozakoff and Kazakoff, Allick
Russian spelling Алексей Иванович Казаков
Born 8.02.1889
Place Starye Mataki, Kazan, Russia
Ethnic origin Russian
Religion Russian Orthodox
Father John Petrovich Kazakoff
Mother Chevanoff Tatiana
Family

Wife Anne Isabel Kazakoff (née Bourne) (1905-1998), married at Harrisville, Qld, 1925; children Nora Isabel, Vera, Nicholas Alec, Evelyn (Lyn), Robert Edward, Una Helen, Betty Anne, Jeffrey Ronald, Nanette Karen, David Alan (information from daughter Lyn Kaddatz)

Arrived at Australia from St Petersburg
on 19.12.1912
disembarked at Melbourne
Residence before enlistment Melbourne, Adelaide, Bundaberg, Mount Morgan, Cairns, Qld
Occupation Before arrival: merchant seaman; 1915 labourer, 1923 fitter
Naturalisation 1923
Residence after the war Brisbane, Aramac, Innisfail, Brisbane, Qld
Died 12.07.1956, Qld

Service #1

Service number 1762
Enlisted 23.03.1915
Place of enlistment Cairns, Qld
Unit 15th Battalion, 11th FAB
Rank Private, Gunner, Fitter, reverted to Gunner
Place Gallipoli 1915; Western Front 1916-1918
Casualties WIA 1915
Final fate RTA 19.10.1918
Discharged 23.02.1919

Materials

Blog article

Russian

English

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

[...] Alexis Kazakoff, whose name in his service records was spelt variously as Kosakoff, Kasakoff, Kozakoff, Kazenkoff and Kazerkoff, was even court-martialled over issues connected with his language problems. [...] Kazakoff came from a village near Kazan on the Volga River; he deserted his ship in Australia, working here as a labourer. He started his service on Gallipoli, becoming a fitter with the 15th Battalion, which had a number of Russians from Queensland. He fought well, being wounded once. Back in Egypt he was transferred to the 11th Field Artillery Brigade. In May 1918 he was made a gunner, but refused to take up his new duties, arguing at his trial, 'I know the language well enough to be a fitter but not a gunner'. Army command was at this stage of the war desperate to utilise every available man and Kazakoff's arguments were dismissed: he was sentenced to 35 days' field punishment and mustered as a gunner.

[...] At the end of August [1918] Smagin was transferred to England, without trial, for return to Australia. His case set the ball rolling: a month later four other Russians, from 4th Division artillery units, were also sent back to Australia 'on account of Russian nationality'. They were followed by another five men from different units, sent back under the same rubric; though sometimes it was recorded as 'other reasons' or 'family reasons'. There are some familiar names among them: John Wagin (who had just been sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour), Michael Osipoff (who had earlier wounded himself), Alexis Kazakoff (who some months previously refused to serve as a gunner), and Justin Glowacki.

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