Русская версия

Nieminen, Kulmar, Rybakov, Myyrylainen, Brasche

Adolph Nieminen

  • Adolph Nieminen, a Finnish seaman, enlisted in the AIF in Brisbane.
  • Three months later he left his unit and continued to serve on the ships.

Jan Kulmar

  • Jan Kulmar, a Latvian sailor, whose mother lived in Libava (Liepaja), enlisted in the AIF in Melbourne.
  • He arrived with reinforcements to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on the Western Front in November 1916 and was killed a few weeks later at the Somme.
  • His widowed mother Anna received an Australian pension after the war.

Michael Silas Rybakov

  • Michael Silas Rybakov, a Russian seaman from Revel (Tallinn) in Estonia, enlisted in the AIF in Melbourne.
  • He served with the 5th Battalion on the Western Front and was killed in September 1917 at the battle on Mennin Road in Ypres.
  • When enlisting in the AIF he refused to make a will and his father was never found.

Artur Wilho Myyrylainen

  • Artur Wilho Myyrylainen, a Finnish sailor, came to Australia in February 1916, and, while in Adelaide, was assaulted by a Belgian seaman on suspicion that he was a German. He enlisted soon afterwards.
  • A few days later he deserted the camp, was caught and court martialled, but in May 1916 he was released as medically unfit.
  • After the war he continued his occupation as a seaman and most likely naturalized in the USA.

Martin Brasche

  • Martin Brasche, a seaman from Riga, came to Australia in 1915.
  • He enlisted in the AIF in Melbourne and served with the 2nd Pioneer battalion on the Western Front. In July 1918 he was gassed but returned to his battalion after recovery.
  • After the war he continued his occupation as a seaman, living in Sydney.