Russian AnzacsFrans Albert Nyblom
| Born | 16.05.1887 |
|---|---|
| Place | Bromarv, Finland |
| Ethnic origin | Finnish |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Father | Rederick Nyblom |
| Mother | Eva Saderland (Soderlund) |
| Family | Wife Norah Nyblom (Parfrey), married 1920, son Nyblom, Francis Alfred, b.1924 |
| Arrived at Australia |
from Liverpool, England on 18.12.1913 per Celtecglaw disembarked at Melbourne |
| Residence before enlistment | Melbourne |
| Occupation | 1916 sailor, 1942 able seaman, ships officer |
| Naturalisation | 1920 |
| Residence after the war | Melbourne |
Service #1
| Service number | 1891 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 29.02.1916 |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne |
| Unit | 38th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Western Front, 1916 |
| Casualties | WIA, POW 1916 |
| Final fate | RTA 31.01.1919 |
| Discharged | 11.08.1919 MU |
Service #2 – WWII
| Service number | V353219 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 28.031942 |
| Place of enlistment | Kensington, Vic. |
| Unit | 1 st Bn, VDC |
| Discharged | 7.10.1945 |
Materials
Digitised naturalisation (NAA)
Digitised WWI service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)
Digitised Red Cross wounded and missing file (AWM)
Red Cross POW file (AWM)
Statement as POW (AWM)
Alien registration (NAA)
Personal case file (NAA)
Blog article
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
During the winter months of 1916-17 the Australian 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Divisions were holding positions near Gueudecourt, engaged in what the official history referred to as 'minor operations'. [...] The Finnish seaman Frans Albert Nyblom tells about one such 'minor' operation at Armentières one night in December: 'I was with a party of Bombers ... Our objective was to enter the enemy trenches, remain there 15 minutes, do as much damage as possible and then return.' No sooner had they started to cut the wire than enemy machine-guns opened up and the Australians were pinpointed by the search-lights, although they still managed to throw a few bombs. Every member of this party of eight was killed or wounded, and it was believed Nyblom had been killed, too. Sergeant W.S. Roe gave evidence, saying: 'Nyblom, I am almost sure, was immediately in front of me. In fact his body must have received several bullets that were intended for me. I have no doubt that that person was killed.' Others saw him 'absolutely riddled with bullets'. Nyblom did survive, however; wounded in the foot, he lay out on no-man's-land until morning, when he was found by the Germans and taken prisoner.