Albert Lukander

Born 5.01.1891
Place Helsingfors (Helsinki), Finland
Ethnic origin Finnish
Religion Lutheran
Father Albert Lukander
Family

Wife Helena Johanna Lukander; children Alma b. 1921, and Lois b. 1928

Residence before arrival at Australia Worked in the merchant service for 3½ years
Arrived at Australia from South America
on 12.12.1911
per Englhorn
disembarked at Adelaide
Residence before enlistment Port Adelaide, SA
Occupation 1914 sailor, 1921 labourer
Naturalisation 1921
Residence after the war Semaphore, SA
Died 9.11.1972, Semaphore, SA

Service #1

Service number 1377
Enlisted 28.11.1914
Place of enlistment Oaklands, SA
Unit 10th Battalion; 3rd Brigade LTM Battery
Rank Corporal
Place Gallipoli, 1915; Western Front, 1916-1918
Casualties WIA 1915, 1918
Awards 20.11.1917 awarded MM (LG 19.03.1918)
Final fate RTA 20.11.1918
Discharged 24.03.1919

Materials

Digitised naturalisation (NAA)

Digitised service records (NAA)

Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)

Army payfile (NAA)

Digitised recommendation for award 1 2 (AWM)

Group portrait of the Light Trench Mortar Battery of the 1st Division. E01761 (AWM)

Crematorium index (NAA)

Different Voices: four reflections for Anzac Day) (click on Show transcript)

Blog article

Russian

English

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

After the capture of Polygon Wood [1917] the next objective was the ridge at Broodseinde, an action in which three Australian divisions (1st, 2nd and 3rd) took part. Corporal Albert Lukander was with a light trench-mortar battery in the lines here. Lukander was a Finn who had made Australia his home in 1911, one of those former seamen covered with elaborate tattoos. Among the first of the Finns to enlist in the AIF, he was wounded in the chest during the Gallipoli landing. On recovering, he rejoined his unit (10th Battalion) on the peninsula, remaining there until the troops were all evacuated at the end of December 1915.

At Broodseinde the three Australian divisions planned an attack for the early morning of 4 October [1917], which was to be preceded by a barrage of the enemy positions. This plan ran into problems, however, when the Germans, who were intending to make their own attack, got in first and 'opened up a heavy bombardment'. The citation for Lukander's Military Medal describes his role in that action, when he came under sustained artillery fire. 'Cpl. Lukander's gun was blown out and put out of action, he and some of his crew being partially buried'. Quick-thinking, Lukander immediately mounted 'a reserve gun and got into action again in time for our bombardment and fired all ammunition for the operation, effectively silencing the Machine guns which he had bombarded. By his cool courage and quick action the infantry were greatly assisted in their advance. ... Lukander, although in a shaken condition and subjected to very heavy artillery fire, set a splendid example to his men throughout the operation.'

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