Thomas Thomasson

Born 31.08.1886     Place Kristinestad (Kristiinankaupunki), Finland     Ethnic origin Finn     Religion Lutheran

Arrived at Australia -

Residence before enlistment Abbotsford, Vic

Occupation seaman

Service

service number 3635     enlisted 26.04.1916     POE Melbourne

unit 29th Battalion       rank Private

place Western Front, 1917

final fate RTA 11.01.1918       discharged 5.04.1918 MU

Naturalisation served as Russian subject

Residence after the war Collingwood, Vic., Abbotsford, Vic.

Materials digitised service records (NAA)

court martial file (NAA)

Records of the Assistant Provost Marshal (AWM)

alien registration (NAA)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

[At court martials Russians'] immediate superior officers might sometimes refer to a soldier’s Russian origin, but in mitigation for the offence. So, at the trial of Thomas Thomasson, a Finnish former seaman — found guilty of being absent without leave and of attempting to escape from an escort — his company commander, Lieutenant C.S. Slade, spoke in his favour: ‘The accused is a Russian and at times has found some difficulty in understanding our system of discipline, but has always when it has been explained to him been ready to do the correct thing’. Although few in number, considerate officers did exist even then.

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