Usko Leonard Salonen

Alias Oscar

Born 1887     Place Abo (Turku), Finland     Ethnic origin Finn     Religion Church of England

Father Salonen, Gustav     Mother Salonen, Eda

Uncle Axel Alexander Olin, enlisted together

Arrived at Australia circa 1905

Residence before enlistment Murrumbeena, Vic

Occupation seaman

Service

service number 596     enlisted 20.03.1916     POE Melbourne

unit 39th Battalion       rank Private, Lance Corporal

place Western Front, 1916-1917      casualties WIA 1917

final fate KIA 8.06.1917

cemetery details 168 Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium

Naturalisation served as Russian subject

Materials digitised service records (NAA)

digitised Red Cross wounded and missing file (AWM)

digitised Roll of Honour card (AWM)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

[...] The next thing the Red Cross would usually be told was whose ‘mate’ the missing man was. [...] According to W. Clark, Salonen ‘was a Russian Finn enlisted in Melbourne, a very clever signaller and a good mate’.

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