Gregory Kunin

Russian spelling Григорий Кунин (Кункин)

Born 1894    Place Volozhin, Belarus     Ethnic origin Jewish    Religion Jewish

Father -       Mother Kunkin, Basia

Arrived at Australia

Residence before enlistment Melbourne

Occupation carpenter, joiner, seaman

Service

service number 5043   enlisted 23.02.1916   POE Carlton, Victoria

unit 22nd Battalion   rank Private

place Western Front, 1916-1917

final fate KIA 18.09.1917

cemetery details 112 Hooge Crater Cemetery Zillebeke, Belgium

Army connections friend of Ben Goffin

Naturalisation served as Russian subject

Materials digitised service records (NAA)

digitised Red Cross wounded and missing file (AWM)

Roll of Honour card (AWM)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Gregory Kunin, a Byelorussian who enlisted as a carpenter and seaman, was on outpost duty in a pill-box at Westhoek Ridge. He and nine other men were killed on the eve of the advance when ‘An H.E. shell exploded on top of the pill box’, according to his comrades: ‘… we dug out three bodies, those of Kunin, Cox and L/Cpl Northcote and the unrecognisable remains of the others, the men having been blown to pieces’. They were buried together with a cross over their grave, even though Kunin was a Jew. Ben Goffin, another Russian Jewish serviceman, enlisted and served with Kunin, of whom he wrote: ‘He was a little dark fellow, full set, black curly hair. He was a great friend of mine.’

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