Russian AnzacsCharles Reppe
| Born | 7.04.1882 |
|---|---|
| Place | Riga, Latvia |
| Ethnic origin | Latvian |
| Religion | Lutheran (WWI), Church of England (WWII) |
| Arrived at Australia |
from Bremen, Germany on 10.06.1906 per Lothringen disembarked at Albany, WA |
| Residence before enlistment | Port Augusta, SA |
| Occupation | 1914 ship's fireman, 1917 miner, 1940 prospector |
| Naturalisation | served as naturalised British subject (naturalisation was not found) |
| Residence after the war | Sydney, 1963 War Veterans Home, Yass, NSW |
| Died | 1975 West Ryde, Sydney, NSW |
Service #1
| Service number | 1210 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 21.09.1914 |
| Place of enlistment | Morphettville, SA |
| Unit | 16th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Gallipoli, 1915; Western Front, 1916-1917 |
| Casualties | WIA 1915, 1916, 1917, POW 1917-1918 |
| Final fate | RTA 2.03.1919 |
| Discharged | 19.06.1919 |
Service #2 – WWII
| Enlisted | 1940 |
|---|---|
| Unit | 11 GB, 31 GB |
| Discharged | 1944 |
Materials
Digitised WWI service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)
Digitised Red Cross wounded and missing file (AWM)
Red Cross POW file (AWM)
Army pay file (NAA)
WWII service records (NAA)
Blog article
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Hjalmar Karhu, a Finnish former seaman from Western Australia, gave his account of what he called 'the first "stunt" at Bullecourt' [1917], in which he was wounded as he tried to retreat. 'We reached the second line of enemy trenches. "Fritz" counter-attacked us and our bombs ran short. Our chaps were retreating, and I tried to get back to our lines.' The wounded Karhu was captured by the Germans. Another four Russians were also captured on the same day: three other Finns -- Matti Harsila, Konrat Troyle and Frans Fredrikson -- and Charles Reppe, from Riga, who was one of the first Russians to enlist. Before being wounded and captured at Bullecourt, Reppe was wounded three times -- at Gallipoli (twice) and Mouquet Farm. None of that would prevent him taking ten years off his age and re-enlisting in the 2nd AIF, during the Second World War.