Russian AnzacsMichael Nemirovsky
| Alias | Abraham (in shipping records); changed name to Michael Arnold (after 1930s)* |
|---|---|
| Russian spelling | Михаил Иосифович Немировский |
| Born | 28.03.1897 |
| Place | Mariinsk, Tomsk, Russia |
| Ethnic origin | Jewish / Russian |
| Religion | Greek Jewish (sic) changed to Greek Orthodox Church |
| Father | Joseph Nemirovsky |
| Family | Wife Doria Nemirovsky (née Mahst) (Debora Maemer), married 1921, divorced 1933; wife Nona Nemirovsky |
| Contacts | |
| Arrived at Australia |
from Shanghai, China on 12.05.1915 per On Sang disembarked at Fremantle, WA |
| Residence before enlistment | Geraldton, WA |
| Occupation | 1915 draper, 1919 motor driver, 1921 tin smith, 1927 conductor |
| Naturalisation | 1928 |
| Residence after the war | 1919-1922 Melbourne, 1927 Adelaide, 1929 Perth, 1933 Adelaide |
| Died | 18.05.1956 Adelaide, buried in the Jewish section of West Terrace Cemetery as Michael Arnold* |
Service #1
| Service number | 4865 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 22.12.1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Blackboy Hill, Geraldton, WA |
| Unit | 11th Battalion, 51st Battalion, 3rd Australian Division Supply Column, 3rd MT Company, 4th MT Company |
| Rank | Private, Driver |
| Place | Western Front, 1916-1919 |
| Casualties | WIA 1916 |
| Final fate | RTA 1.06.1919 |
| Discharged | 22.08.1919 |
Materials
Naturalisation 1 2 (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM) (Memirovsky)
Court martial file (NAA)
Alien registration (NAA)
Wife's alien registration (NAA)
Application for admission relatives and friends 1 2 3 (NAA)
Investigation Branch file (NAA)
WWII security investigation dossier (NAA)
* Information provided by Ben Hirsh
Blog article
Newspaper articles
You can buy "The Mirror" here. - Mirror, Perth, 19 October 1929, p 13, il.
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Further indications of military command's approach towards the Russians may be found in courts-martial proceedings. Many disciplinary cases, such as 'using insubordinate language' (and army life made it easy for Russians to pick up that kind of 'language' quickly), made no reference to their Russian origin at all and the trials were unbiased. When Michael Nemirovsky abused a non-commissioned officer, for instance, the court sentenced him to 28 days of no. 1 field punishment, and commented that 'The Court are of opinion that there was provocation and recommend the accused to mercy'.
[...] The Myers were known for providing their compatriots with employment, among whom were several diggers -- Michael Nemirovsky was one who worked at the Emporium in the 1930s.
Gallery
Michael Nemirovsky's tombstone
Courtesy of Ben Hirsh