Russian AnzacsWilliam Kolesnikov
| Alias | Koles |
|---|---|
| Russian spelling | Владимир Колесников |
| Born | 7.03.1880 |
| Place | Surazh, Chernigov, Russia |
| Ethnic origin | Ukrainian/Russian |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Mother | Justinia Kolesnikov |
| Arrived at Australia |
from Russia on 12.04.1907 per Neva disembarked at Fremantle, WA |
| Residence before enlistment | Narrogin, Kalgoorlie, Perth, Fremantle, Sydney |
| Occupation | 1911 labourer, 1916 hotel useful |
| Naturalisation | 1911 |
| Residence after the war | Sydney |
| Died | 1923, Sydney (missing) |
Service #1
| Service number | 2681 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 24.05.1916 |
| Place of enlistment | Sydney |
| Unit | 55th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Western Front, 1916-1917 |
| Casualties | WIA 1917 |
| Final fate | RTA 8.08.1918 |
| Discharged | 27.02.1919 MU |
Materials
Digitised naturalisation file (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA) (Koles aka Kolesnickov)
Blog article
Newspaper articles
Returned soldier missing. - The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 January 1923, p. 9
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
William Kolesnikov, from Peretin in the Ukraine, had [...] horrific wounds [at Polygon Wood, 1917] -- as well as wounds to his left arm, his jaw and mandible were fractured and his tongue was shot away. Yan Soolcovsky, a Gallipoli veteran who had been wounded previously at Mouquet Farm, now lost an arm at Polygon Wood. In 1920 he died in Brisbane with his fiancée at his side. Was there anybody to look after Kolesnikov? I could find no one.