Naturalisation (NAA)

Digitised service records (NAA)

Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)

WWI alien registration (NAA)

WWII alien registration 1 2 (NAA)

Family tree on Ancestry.com

Blog article

Russian

English

Newspaper articles

Oscar and Michael. - Evening News, Rockhampton, 18 March 1925, p. 5.

Celebrating the Day. - Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, 19 March 1925, p. 8.

Police court. - Daily Mercury, Mackay, 3 March 1927, p. 5.

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Permakoff's wasn't the only such case [deserter]. Michael Osipoff, from Irkutsk in Siberia, was living through his own tragedy at the same time. In Australia he had worked as a railway labourer and his enlistment was probably driven by hunger. After several months at the front he tried to escape but was brought back. Then, on 2 July 1918, he shot himself in the foot with his rifle (recorded as 'negligently self inflicted injury') but he was returned to his 25th Battalion. Two months later he was wounded at Péronne, and thus finally earned his freedom.

[...] At the end of August [1918] Smagin was transferred to England, without trial, for return to Australia. His case set the ball rolling: a month later four other Russians, from 4th Division artillery units, were also sent back to Australia 'on account of Russian nationality'. They were followed by another five men from different units, sent back under the same rubric; though sometimes it was recorded as 'other reasons' or 'family reasons'. There are some familiar names among them: John Wagin (who had just been sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour), Michael Osipoff (who had earlier wounded himself), Alexis Kazakoff (who some months previously refused to serve as a gunner), and Justin Glowacki.