Joseph Rudezky

Russian spelling Иосиф Трофимович Рудецкий
Born 4.04.1890
Place Skvira, Kiev, Ukraine
Ethnic origin Ukrainian
Religion Russian Orthodox
Father Trofim Rudezky
Mother Pelageia Rudezky
Family

Wife Agnes Annie Rudezky (née Burns), married 1920; daughters Lilly b.1920, Violet b. 1922, Tanya, Doris, Tamara, b. 1930

Residence before arrival at Australia Served in the 37th Russian Infantry [Battalion] for 18 months
Arrived at Australia from Russia
on 16.08.1913
per Kumano Maru
disembarked at Townsville
Residence before enlistment Queensland and Thursday Island
Occupation Was a priest in Russia (information from daughter), photographer; 1915, 1917 chauffeur; 1922 labourer
Naturalisation 1922
Residence after the war Brisbane, Halifax, Townsville, Brisbane, Halifax, Ingham, Townsville, Brisbane, Wallangarra, Brisbane, Stanthorpe, Dalby
Died 07.02.1931, Dalby, Qld

Service #1

Service number 156
Enlisted 1.04.1915
Place of enlistment Rockhampton, Qld
Unit 26th Battalion
Rank Private
Place Gallipoli, 1915, Western Front, 1916
Casualties WIA 1916
Final fate RTA 4.05.1917
Discharged 15.08.1917 MU

Materials

Blog article

Russian

English

Newspaper articles

Obituary. Mr. Joseph Rudezky. - Dalby Herald, 10 February 1931, p. 3.

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

In the course of describing this Russian contribution -- both in spirit and in fighting -- to the Anzac legend [at Gallipoli], I can't help thinking about those Russians whose life-stories didn't fit so well with this legend. We will never know what their experiences were on these barren shores so near their native land ... There was Joseph Rudezky (26th Battalion), for instance, a Ukrainian former photographer; according to his daughter Violet Cotman, he 'would not talk about the army. When they came back, he said, "I don't want to hear about the army". And he would not march on Anzac Day. He was fairly bitter about the army.'

[...] Joseph Rudezky was invalided to Australia in 1917 after being wounded at Pozières, which left him with a disfigured left hand. The first few months he spent in Brisbane before starting his travels between Brisbane and the cane-cutting areas of Halifax, Ingham and Townsville. He had tuberculosis, probably contracted at the front -- he'd 'had a cough ever since' France -- and although it was rapidly progressing, he kept on working as long as he could: because his tuberculosis was not officially recognised as a war-injury, he was ineligible for treatment as a veteran. However, like some other Russians, he was fortunate enough to come across compassionate Australians and one, Dr Melville, a medical officer, took a personal interest in his case. Melville wrote: 'If his statements are true, and I have no reason to doubt them, being very much impressed by the man's appearance and the way he made the statements, I consider that his T.B. is the result of his exposure in Gallipoli and France, and recommend that he be given the benefit of the doubt'. Owing to Melville's support, Rudezky then received better treatment. While in the sanatorium in Stanthorpe, Queensland, Rudezky married a local girl and took up residence in the soldiers' settlement there. They later moved further north to Dalby, for its dry climate, which prolonged his life a few more years and allowed him to bring up his five daughters before he died, in 1931.

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