Russian AnzacsAnthony Minkshlin
| Alias | Minkshtin (original surname accorrding to UK naturalisation); Mintshlinz, Minkslin, Mintshlin |
|---|---|
| Russian spelling | Антоний Минкштин |
| Born | 13.10.1892 |
| Place | Vilna (Vilnius), Lithuania |
| Ethnic origin | Lithuanian |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Father | Baltromey Minkshtin, in Vidzy, Lithuania/Belarus; in 1921 in Libava (Liepaja) |
| Mother | Agatha nee Christopher |
| Residence before arrival at Australia | Studied in Vilno and Libava; stated that served in the Russian Army (probably incorrect) |
| Arrived at Australia |
on Ca 2.05.1907 disembarked at New South Wales |
| Residence before enlistment | Branston, NSW; Melbourne |
| Occupation | 1907 labourer; 1915 seaman |
| Naturalisation | 1921 in the UK |
| Residence after the war | 1921 Liepaja, Latvia, 1923 Australia, 1935 Sydney |
Service #1
| Service number | 1328 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 3.08.1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne |
| Unit | 4th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Anzac Mounted Regiment, 13th Light Horse Regiment |
| Rank | Trooper |
| Place | Western Front, 1916-1918 |
| Final fate | RTA 15.10.1921 |
| Discharged | 20.07.1919 in London |
Service #2 – British Army
| Service number | 133006 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 28.05.1919 |
| Place of enlistment | London |
| Unit | 45th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, Russian Relief Force |
| Place | Russia, 1919 |
| Awards | Meritorious Service Medal |
| Discharged | 11.01.1920 |
Service #3 – British Military Mission
| Enlisted | 28.02.1920 |
|---|---|
| Rank | Interpreter |
| Place | Kovno, Lithuania |
| Discharged | 5.05.1920 |
Materials
Digitised service records (NAA)
Medals awarded (digitised file) (NAA)
Application to enlist (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM) (Mintshlin)
Embarkations from London on BEKTABA, 29 March - ... A Minkshlin (NAA)
*I am grateful to Michael Challinger and Aldis Putnins for access to the image
Blog article
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
[...] five Russians enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment, mostly as interpreters, and served with the North Russian Relief Force: Alex Alexandroff, from Vladivostok (a former cook), Robert Meerin and Anthony Minkshlin, from the Baltic region (both former seamen), Ivan Odliff, from Nizhny Novgorod (a former boiler-maker), and Paul Smirnoff, a 19-year-old former miner from Vologda, northern Russia. Richard Gregorenko planned to join them but later changed his mind and returned to Australia. They arrived in Archangel in summer 1919 and fought against the pro-Bolshevik forces in the area until the final evacuation of Allied forces a year later. Minkshlin was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal for this campaign.
Gallery
Anthony Minkshlin in North Russia
(Imperial War Museum, London, 3450 86/86/1 Allfrey)*
Anthony Minkshlin
(Registration in British merchant fleet (National Archives, UK))