Joseph Vurhaft

Russian spelling Иосиф Вургафт

Born 10.02.1893     Place Odessa, Ukraine     Ethnic origin Jewish     Religion Church of England

Father -     Mother Vurhaft, Fanny

Arrived at Australia

            from China     on 29.12.1912     per St Albans     disembarked at Cairns

Residence before enlistment Qld

Occupation gardener, farming

Service

service number 6327     enlisted 25.01.1916    POE Rockhampton, Qld

unit 9th Battalion       rank Private

place Western Front, 1916-1917      casualties WIA (1917)

final fate RTA 11.02.1918      discharged 2.11.1918 MU, left arm amputated

Naturalisation 1918

Residence after the war Victoria; 1924 San Francisco

Materials naturalisation (NAA)

digitised service records (NAA)

Intelligence section file (NAA)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

 For the Russians an added dimension was their feeling of having now earned their right to be sons of Australia — this place where they had originally landed only by chance. [...] Joseph Vurhaft applied for his naturalisation from hospital in 1918. On being requested to submit his Russian birth-certificate, he exploded: ‘I lost everything I had when wounded at the front. … I gave my service freely for the country, and am suffering from shock to the nervous system besides losing an arm. I fail to see any reason why there should be any delay in this matter, or to be worried any further.’

Back to home if you do not see frames