Alexis Kopin

Russian spelling Алексей Григорьевич Копин
Born 12.1888
Place Avustava (Augustov?), Poland (naturalisation)
Ethnic origin Russian? Polish?
Religion Roman Catholic
Father Gregory Kopin, in Minsk
Arrived at Australia from Vladivostok
on 7.01.1912
per Nikko Maru
disembarked at Brisbane
Residence before enlistment Fairymead Sugar Plantation, Doolbi Sugar Mill
Occupation Carpenter
Naturalisation 1914
Residence after the war 1917 Brisbane, left for Russia 31.12.1917 per Aki Maru

Service #1 – Depot

Service number 66813
Enlisted 16.06.1917
Place of enlistment Melbourne
Unit 35th MG Company
Rank Private
Discharged 28.09.1917 not likely to become an efficient soldier

Materials

Blog article

Russian

English

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

The case of the carpenter Alexis Kopin, a Russian from Poland, illustrates some of the difficulties Russians might encounter at the hands of training staff officers in military depots. Kopin enlisted in June 1917 in Melbourne, and started his service in the machine-gun company at Seymour Camp; but less than two months later he applied for a discharge: 'I find training difficult with my language and temperament. I desire to be discharged that I may go to Russia [and] there enlist.' In the orderly room, reported his commander, he stated 'that he would not soldier any more', preferring 'to enlist at any Russian unit being formed in Australia'. The commander appealed to headquarters: 'Cannot something be done to stop these foreigners enlisting in the Australian Forces particularly in technical units like Machine Gunners where a man has to have a far more intelligent mind than for other branches of the service. Kopin has a distinct German appearance.' His 'German appearance' apart, camp authorities were also suspicious because he 'was supposed to carry a knife' and had 'a suit of civilian clothes'; further incriminating material was 'some private correspondence in his possession in some foreign language'. Kopin, with his Russian papers, was taken off to the Intelligence section and, after being interrogated there, was discharged. A Victorian Intelligence officer sent a warning to colleagues in Queensland, where Kopin intended to go, that 'he has nearly completed a boat 34 feet long which he intends to use, and I am always suspicious of German looking Russians, who go to Seymour, learn machine gunnery, and then get discharged'. Did the Intelligence people fear that, with his newly acquired knowledge of machine-gunnery, Kopin would launch an attack on the Australian navy from his boat?

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