Russian AnzacsEmerick 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
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.'