Russian AnzacsOscar Mattson
| Alias | Karl Nurmi (AIF service); Osker (Oskar) Madson (true name) |
|---|---|
| Born | 13.08.1886 |
| Place | Kotka, Finland |
| Ethnic origin | Finnish |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Father | Herman Nurmi [Madson] |
| Arrived at Australia |
on 04.1909 per Winnipeg disembarked at Hobart (deserted) |
| Residence before enlistment | Perth |
| Occupation | Fireman, miner, sleeper cutter |
| Naturalisation | Served as Russian subject, appl. 1922 |
| Residence after the war | Mount Morgan, Bendigo, Orbost, Sydney, Melbourne |
Service #1 – Depot
| Enlisted | 4.10.1916 |
|---|---|
| Place of enlistment | Perth |
| Rank | Private |
| Final fate | deserted 3.09.1917 |
Materials
[Karl Narmi, alias Oscar Madson or Mathson - Applicant for Naturalization (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA) (Nurmi)
Court martial file (NAA) (Nurmi/Madson)
Alien registration 1 2 (NAA) (Madson)
Intelligence Branch file (NAA) (Nurmi/Mathson)
Blog article
Newspaper articles
Oscar Mattson. 'Fast workers die young'. - Workers' Weekly, Sydney, 30 August 1929, p. 3.
'Red Flag'. Court disturbed. Songs in cells. - Sun, Sydney, 24 October 1930, p. 11.
Fight Hogan and Scullin. Deportation threat tp workers. - Workers' Weekly, Sydney, 31 October 1930, p. 1.
Communist activities. - Kalgoorlie Miner, 11 November 1930, p. 4.
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
It may have been unofficial practice to place Russians, whose English was deficient, in non-combatant units -- according to the Finn Karl Nurmi (Osker Madson), a former fireman, when about to embark, 'not being able to speak the English language fluently, I was withdrawn and transferred to the tunnellers'.