Emerick Shimkovitch

Alias Schimkovitch
Russian spelling Эмерик (?) Иосифович Шимкович
Born 5.01.1894
Place Novo-Aleksandrovsk (Zarasai), Kovno (Kaunas), Lithuania
Ethnic origin Polish
Religion Roman Catholic
Father Joseph Shimkovitch
Mother Cath[erine]
Family

Wife Jean Lilian Shimkovich, died 1931, daughter Veronica; wife Esther Gladys Corden Shimkovitch

Contacts

Arrived, enlisted and served together with John de Raupak-Ropenberg

Residence before arrival at Australia 'Left native land around 1911'
Arrived at Australia from New York, USA
on 8.01.1916
per Howth
disembarked at Geelong, Victoria
Residence before enlistment Melbourne
Occupation Seaman, motor driver, light keeper
Naturalisation 1923
Residence after the war 1923 Coburg, Vic., 1929 Cape Schanck Lighthose, via Rosebud, Vic., 1943 Cliffy Island, 1949 South Melbourne
Died 3.03.1951, South Melbourne

Service #1

Service number 4538
Enlisted 29.01.1916
Place of enlistment Melbourne
Unit 22nd Battalion
Rank Private, Corporal
Place Western Front, 1916-1918
Awards MM (14/05/1919 LG)
Final fate RTA 17.03.1919
Discharged 14.06.1919

Materials

Digitised naturalisation (NAA) (Shimkovitch)

Digitised service records (NAA) (Schimkovitch)

Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)

Digitised recommendation for award 1 2 3 (AWM) (Shimkovitch, Schimkovitch, Skimkovitch)

Alien registration (NAA) (Shimkovitch)

Personal case file (NAA) (Schimkovitch)

Images

Group portrait of A Company of the 22nd Battalion. E02460 (AWM) (Shimkovitch)

Blog articles

Russian Anzacs blog (Russian)

Russian Anzacs blog (English)

Early Lithuanians in Australia

Newspaper articles

Disturbance during dance. - The Argus, Melbourne, 6 November 1926, p. 39.

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

During [August 1918] Australian units continued their 'peaceful penetration', gradually pushing back the Germans towards the old Somme lines of 1916, in actions that often turned into fierce battles. Two such attacks are described in the citations for the Military Medals received by Corporal Nicholas Lagutin, from Moscow, who was a labourer when enlisting, and Corporal Emerick Schimkovitch, a former sailor from Lithuania. [...] Schimkovitch was in charge of a Lewis gun during the attack at Herleville, near Lihons, on 18 August: 'Soon after leaving the Jumping-off Tape his Company came under heavy fire' as his commanding officer describes it. 'This N.C.O. at once moved in front of the platoon and with his Lewis Gun opened fire on the enemy Machine Gun positions. He continued to advance firing from the hip. At about 25 yards from the objective he rushed forward to a small mound and brought his gun into action. In spite of the fact that bombs were thrown all round him he remained in position firing his gun until the Company had completed its movement. The determination and gallant action of this N.C.O. and his skilful handling of his Lewis Gun undoubtedly saved many casualties to us and accounted for many of the enemy.'

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