Russian Anzacs

William Magi, an Estonian seaman, came to South Australia in 1909. He worked as a carpenter, building jetties, and as sailor.
Enlisting in the AIF in Melbourne he served with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on the Western Front. In September 1917 he was killed at the battle for Menin Road near Ypres.
His family was found after the war in Estonia.

Gustaf Adolf Pohlson, a Finn from Jakobstad, came to Australia around 1889, in his youth. He settled in Chiltern in Victoria, where he participated in cycling competitions. In 1898 he moved to Western Australia. By the time of his enlistment in the AIF he worked as a baker in Kurramia near Kalgoorlie.
With the 7th Battalion he served on the Western Front and was killed at the battle for Menin Road near Ypres, the same day as Magi.
His family in Finland was never found.

John Anderson, a Finnish seaman from Björneborg (Pori), by 1916 worked in Kalgoorlie.
With the 28th Battalion he served on the Western Front. In September 1917, at the same battle where Magi and Pohlson were killed, he was wounded in the arm. Recovering, he continued his service, but beginning from April 1918 he had several AWLs, and finally he was court martialled for desertion; later the sentence was suspended and he was returned to Australia.
After the war he lived in Western Australia.

Salomon Hamalainen, a Finnish seaman from Vyborg, came to Newcastle in Australia in 1911 and worked in Port Pirie and Queensland as a labourer.
He enlisted in the AIF in Cloncurry, but was discharged 8 months later as medically unfit.
After the war he lived in the Mackay area in Queensland, working as a labourer on the railway construction works.