Russian AnzacsFrank Payton
| Alias | Dave Libman (true name) |
|---|---|
| Born | 15.04.1892 |
| Place | Riga, Latvia |
| Ethnic origin | Jewish |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Father | Solomon Payton (Solomon Berkoff) |
| Residence before arrival at Australia | At 13 years of age ran away from home and changed name, worked as a sailor |
| Arrived at Australia |
from Argentina on 02.1913 per Nordlysset disembarked at Geraldton, WA (as a sailor) |
| Residence before enlistment | Geraldton, WA |
| Occupation | Sailor, fisherman, painter, wharf labourer |
| Naturalisation | 1945 |
| Residence after the war | Western Australia, Darwin, 1942 evacuated to Adelaide |
| Died | 1959, Perth |
Service #1
| Service number | 4200 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 29.12.1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Blackboy Hill, WA |
| Unit | 28th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Western Front, 1916-1918 |
| Casualties | WIA 1916, 1917, 1918 |
| Final fate | RTA 23.09.1918 |
| Discharged | 10.04.1919 |
Materials
Naturalisation (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)
Personal case file 1 2(NAA)
Blog article
Newspaper articles
Stranded fisherman rescued. - The West Australian, Perth, 14 May 1927, p. 9.
The fishermen's peril. - Truth, Perth, 4 June 1927, p. 11.
Fishing tragedy. - Sunday Times, Perth, 13 September 1931, p. 1.
Fishing tragedy. Survivors' story at inquest. - The West Australian, Perth, 29 September 1931, p. 13.
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Frank Payton had a colourful life -- he ran away from his Jewish family in Riga at just 13 years of age and reached Australia as a sailor; on the Western Front he was wounded four times. After the war he worked in Western Australia as a wharfie, a whaler, and a prospector, and on the wharves in Darwin but was evacuated from there in 1942, to South Australia, where he ran into some difficulties over his nationality and observed: 'I have never been subject to such indignities as I have suffered here since it had been discovered that I am apparently not a British subject and I want to be naturalized as soon as possible'.