Thomas Tarasowf

Russian spelling Фома Иванович Тарасов

Born  31.07.1893     Place Minsk, Belarus     Ethnic origin Russian/Byelorussian     Religion Roman Catholic

Father Tarasowf, John     Mother -

Arrived at Australia

            from Moji     on 13.02.1912 or 05.1913     per Yawata Maru     disembarked at Brisbane

Residence before enlistment Townsville, Qld

Occupation 1915 fitter, 1931 miner

Service

service number 2175     enlisted 22.06.1915     POE Brisbane

unit 26th Battalion, 2nd Pioneer Battalion       rank Private

place Western Front, 1916-1918

final fate RTA 7.04.1919       discharged 11.07.1919

Naturalisation 1936

Residence after the war Brisbane, Mackay, Rockhampton, Mt Morgan, Mt Isa, Brisbane

Died 14.08.1940

Materials naturalisation (NAA) (Tarasouf)

digitised service records (NAA) (Tarasowf)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

In Thomas Tarasowf’s case refusal [of naturalisation] was because of several convictions for stealing while drunk. Yet his police report stated that he was ‘undoubtedly a Russian’ who did ‘not mix with the Russian community here’; even his referees were all returned soldiers. When he applied, he was already terminally ill with tuberculosis but, not being a citizen, was ineligible for the invalid pension. The RSL came to his support several times, writing once: ‘there is a principle behind it, and it seems remarkable that a man who fought for his country, cannot subsequently be naturalised’. Officialdom remained adamant. The policeman interviewing him for the last time, when he was not expected to live much longer as he was ‘daily growing weaker from TB’, recorded that Tarasowf ‘Desires to state that he wishes to die a British Subject’. That finally moved the authorities and Tarasowf, after battling for five years, was naturalised in 1936; soon afterwards he died, but at least it was as a British subject.

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