Russian AnzacsJoseph Vurhaft
| Russian spelling | Иосиф Вургафт |
|---|---|
| Born | 10.02.1893 |
| Place | Odessa, Ukraine |
| Ethnic origin | Jewish |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Mother | Fanny Vurhaft (nee Esterlis) |
| Arrived at Australia |
from China on 29.12.1912 per St Albans disembarked at Cairns |
| Residence before enlistment | Queensland, Brisbane |
| Occupation | 1916 gardener, farming, 1930 clerk; 1940 picker in Labor unions |
| Naturalisation | 1918 |
| Residence after the war | Melbourne; 1919 to Hong Kong; 1924 San Francisco, USA |
| Died | 29.12.1969 San Francisco, USA |
Service #1
| Service number | 6327 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted | 25.01.1916 |
| Place of enlistment | Rockhampton, Qld |
| Unit | 9th Battalion |
| Rank | Private |
| Place | Western Front, 1916-1917 |
| Casualties | WIA 1917 |
| Final fate | RTA 11.02.1918 |
| Discharged | 2.11.1918 MU, left arm amputated |
Materials
Digitised naturalisation (NAA)
Digitised service records (NAA)
Digitised Embarkation roll entry (AWM)
Intelligence section file (NAA)
Personal case file (NAA)
Blog article
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
For the Russians an added dimension was their feeling of having now earned their right to be sons of Australia -- this place where they had originally landed only by chance. [...] Joseph Vurhaft applied for his naturalisation from hospital in 1918. On being requested to submit his Russian birth-certificate, he exploded: 'I lost everything I had when wounded at the front. ... I gave my service freely for the country, and am suffering from shock to the nervous system besides losing an arm. I fail to see any reason why there should be any delay in this matter, or to be worried any further.'