Russian Anzacs

Hugo Albert Lindell, a Finn from Tammerfors (Tampere), came to Western Australia in 1908 probably as a sailor, and worked as a sleeper hewer on the railway construction sites.
Enlisting in the AIF in Banbury, he served with the 11th Battalion on the Western Front. In September 1918, during the advance south of Peronne, he was wounded in the head and returned to Australia.
After the war he lived in Nelson, working as a sleeper cutter.

George Connand from Warsaw was most likely of German origin; he came to Australia a few years before the war and was working in Queensland as a labourer and miner.
By the time when he enlisted in the AIF in Cloncurry he was in his forties and a widower with two children. He sailed with the 52nd Battalion to the Western Front, but while in England became sick and was returned to Australia.
After the war he lived in Queensland, travelling as a swagman in the outback in search of employment.

John Seletkoff, a Russian from the Sarapul area, worked as a stoker and greaser on English ships since 1900, arriving in Australia in 1910.
Enlisting in the AIF in Townsville, he was allocated to tunnelling companies, but was discharged seven months later as medically unfit.
After the war he worked as a miner in the Queensland outback.

Nils Arthur Erikson, a Finnish seaman from Mariehamn on the Aland Islands, came to Western Australia in 1912 and worked as a farm hand.
Enlisting in the AIF in Perth, he served with the 27th Battalion on the Western Front. In December 1917 he was wounded, but recovered and continued his service to the end of the war.
After the war he married an Australian girl, Coral May Lindley, and worked as a farm manager in Bruce Rock, later moving to Perth.

Alexander Spisbah came from a Russianised German family. Born either in St Petersburg or Kharkoff, he served as a captain in the accountant subdivision in the Russian Army Headquarters. Moving to England, he married Lydia Batoulina in 1911 in Liverpool and sailed to Western Australia, where their son George was born. Alexander worked as a miner in Kurraway and Boulder.
Enlisting on the 13.11.1916 at Blackboy Hill, he was discharged a few months later as medically unfit.
After his discharge the family lived in Mornington, where Alexander worked in a sawmill. When the mill closed, Alexander was unable to find work and took his own life in 1934.