Michael Osipoff

Russian spelling Михаил Иннокентьевич Осипов

Born 20.09.1893     Place Irkutsk, Siberia     Ethnic origin Russia     Religion True Christian (i.e. Russian Orthodox)

Father Osipoff, Enokenty Efimoff     Mother -

Arrived at Australia

            from Far East     on 10.07.1913     per St Albans     disembarked at Brisbane

Residence before enlistment Queensland

Occupation 1916 railway labourer, 1919 labourer, 1939 casual warf labourer

Service

service number 5636     enlisted 2.09.1916     POE Rockhampton, Qld

unit 25th Battalion       rank Private

place Western Front, 1916-1918      casualties WIA 1918

final fate RTA 4.12.1918       discharged 24.02.1919 on account of Russian nationality

Naturalisation 1940

Residence after the war Sydney

Family wife Phyllis Mary Osipoff (née Turtle), married 1932, died 1937; their son Robert (?) died in 1934; wife Lucy Osipoff (née Shears), married 1937

Materials naturalisation (NAA)

digitised service records (NAA)

alien registration (NAA)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Permakoff’s wasn’t the only such case [deserter]. Michael Osipoff, from Irkutsk in Siberia, was living through his own tragedy at the same time. In Australia he had worked as a railway labourer and his enlistment was probably driven by hunger. After several months at the front he tried to escape but was brought back. Then, on 2 July 1918, he shot himself in the foot with his rifle (recorded as ‘negligently self inflicted injury’) but he was returned to his 25th Battalion. Two months later he was wounded at Péronne, and thus finally earned his freedom.

    [...] At the end of August [1918] Smagin was transferred to England, without trial, for return to Australia. His case set the ball rolling: a month later four other Russians, from 4th Division artillery units, were also sent back to Australia ‘on account of Russian nationality’. They were followed by another five men from different units, sent back under the same rubric; though sometimes it was recorded as ‘other reasons’ or ‘family reasons’. There are some familiar names among them: John Wagin (who had just been sentenced to six months’ imprisonment with hard labour), Michael Osipoff (who had earlier wounded himself), Alexis Kazakoff (who some months previously refused to serve as a gunner), and Justin Glowacki.

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