Russian Anzacs

Michael Green, a Finnish seaman from Helsingfors (Helsinki), came to South Australia in 1895 and by the time of his enlistment in the AIF worked as a wharf labourer and sailmaker.
Enlisting in Port Augusta in May 1917, he was discharged five months later as ‘overage’ (he was 45 by that time).
It was not possible to trace his life after the war.

Karl Walter Wilhelm Lauren, a Finn from Abo (Turku), came to Australia in about 1910 and was working as a labourer in South Australia.
Enlisting in the AIF in Adelaide he served with the 43rd Battalion on the Western Front. In July 1918 he was severely wounded and died of wounds a day later.
His mother was found after the war in Finland.

Gustaf Adolph Peterson, a Finnish carpenter from Vyborg, settled in Newcastle and married an Australian girl Johanna Kelly in 1907; they had five children. By the time of his enlistment in the AIF he was living in Brisbane.
He enlisted for the first time in November 1916 and was allocated to the Naval Bridging Train. In May 1917, when the unit was disbanded, he reenlisted and served as a sapper with the 8th Field Company Engineers on Western Front.
After the war he moved to Sydney, where he continued working as a carpenter. His sons Gustave Reinhold and Eric served in the AIF in WWII.

Jack Steinberg, a Jewish man from Odessa or Brest, worked in Perth as a cabinet maker. He was married.
He enlisted in the AIF in May 1917, but was discharged two months later for medical reasons.
After the war he lived in Brisbane. In 1944 he committed suicide.

Hugo Hanson, a Finnish seaman from Lovisa, came to Australia in about 1915.
Enlisting in the AIF in Sydney, he served with the 17th Battalion on the Western Front. In August 1918 he was killed at the Amiens advance.
His family was found in Finland after the war.