Russian AnzacsNicholas Sholmatoff
| Alias | Sholmateff; changed name to Nicholas Nicholls |
|---|---|
| Russian spelling | Николай Николаевич Шольматов |
| Born | 26.11.1888 |
| Place | Moscow, Russia |
| Ethnic origin | Russian |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Father | Nicholas Sholmatoff |
| Mother | Ethel Brownoff |
| Family | Wife Ethel nee French Nicholls, married 1918; children Margaret Peace b. 1919, Jayce, b. 1921, Jack, b. 1925, Walter Roy b.1927 |
| Contacts | Enlisted together Malisheff, Akim Petroff, Sholmatoff, Tarasenkoff, Tuagarin, and Yannin |
| Residence before arrival at Australia | Served in the Russian Army for 1½ years |
| Arrived at Australia |
from Russia on 25.06.1912 per Nikko Maru disembarked at Brisbane |
| Residence before enlistment | Brisbane, Mount Morgan, Qld |
| Occupation | 1915 miner, 1927 smallgoods man |
| Naturalisation | 1928 |
| Residence after the war | Brisbane |
| Died | 21.01.1957, Brisbane |
Service #1
| Service number | 2842A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 14.08.1915 |
| Place of enlistment | Rockhampton, Qld |
| Unit | 25th Battalion, 9th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Western Front, 1916 |
| Casualties | WIA 1916 |
| Final fate | RTA 24.06.1916 |
| Discharged | 4.10.1916 MU |
Materials
Digitised naturalisation (NAA) (Nicholas Nicholls)
Digitised service records (NAA) (Sholmatoff)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM) (Sholmatoff)
Nicholls, Nicholas - Naturalization certificate granted 15 June 1928 (NAA)
Repatriation Medical case file (NAA) (Nicholls)
Blog article
Newspaper articles
Central District volunteers. - Morning Bulletin, Rockhampton, 18 August 1915, p. 8
Central Queenslanders in England. - The Capricorn, Rockhampton, 29 July 1916, p. 21
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
The front around Armentières was described as a 'nursery sector' since it was supposedly quiet, but many Australians experienced their baptism by fire almost as soon as they arrived. On 20 April [1916 ...] the farmhouse and outbuildings at Rouge de Bout, where 9th Battalion's C Company was billeted, received a direct hit under heavy shelling, which killed and wounded many men. C Company included many Russians: Akim Petroff, who was severely wounded in the knee and hands, was evacuated to England and had his right leg amputated; Nicholas Sholmatoff and Alexander Sank were also severely wounded. All three were repatriated to Australia. Lavrrenty Rogojnekoff was the only one of this group to escape from this shelling with only minor injuries, but a few weeks later at Sailly he sustained more serious wounds. These were the first Russian Anzac casualties on the Western Front.