Lithuanian ANZACS

Historian Elena Govor has published a book "Russian Anzacs in Australia History" UNSW Press, 2005

At the end of the nineteenth century the population living on the territory of modern day Lithuania was ethnically diverse. Included are names of servicemen who were most likely of Lithuanian ethnic origin. A few had ties to South Australia

Brenka, George Brente
John Brente Brenka
Born 1887
Place Vilkaviskis, Lithuania? or Volkovysk, Belarus? or Vilkomir (Ukmerge), Latvia?
Ethnic origin Lithuanian? Latvian? Czech?
Religion Roman Catholic
Mother Brenke, Agi
Arrived at Australia 1914 per Ajana
Residence before enlistment Shepperton's Sawmills, Gumeracha, SA
Occupation labourer
Service number 2809 enlisted 8.06.1915 POE Keswick, SA
unit 10th Battalion, 50th Battalion rank Private
place Gallipoli, 1915, Western Front, 1916 casualties WIA 1916 (twice)
final fate DOW 23.08.1916
cemetery 102 Bologne Eastern Cemetery, France
Naturalisation served as Russian subject

Jaks, William Frank
Born 15.04.1882 Place Kovno (Kaunas), Lithuania Ethnic/cultural origin Russian? Lithuanian? Religion Roman Catholic
Residence before arrival at Australia left Russia ca. 1898, lived in England
Arrived at Australia from England? on 17.01.1914 per Heathfield
Residence before enlistment Qld, NSW, SA
Occupation 1916 carpenter, cabinet maker and French polisher
service number 2371 enlisted 10.04.1916 POE Adelaide
unit 5th Pioneer Battalion rank Private
place Western Front, 1917-1918 casualties WIA 1918
final fate RTA 15.01.1919 discharged 27.07.1919
Naturalisation served as Russian subject
Residence after the war 1932 Canberra
Died 16.03.1951, Westlake, Canberra
Members of D Company, 5th Australian Pioneer Battalion near Dranoutre, erecting sheds in Donegal Camp

Zygas, Stanley
Born 14.04.1886 Place Survilishkis (Surviliškis), Kaunas, Lithuania Ethnic origin Lithuanian Religion Roman Catholic
Father Zygas Victor
Residence prior to Australia left Lithuania in 1907, travelled to Germany overland, then to Buenos Aires, then to England and to Australia on vessels
Arrived at Australia from England on 12.1911 per Warrener disembarked at Port Adelaide, SA
Residence before enlistment Tasmania, Port Adelaide, Waikerie, SA
Occupation 1915 sailor, works as agricultural labourer, general handy man, 1917 fitter and turner
Service number 5103 enlisted 28.09.1917 POE Adelaide
unit 32nd Battalion, 50th Battalion rank Private
place Western Front, 1918-1919
final fate RTA 20.12.1919 discharged 5.03.1920
Naturalisation 1915
Residence after the war 1917; 1969 Rostrevor, SA
Wife Kathleen Zygas (née Green), married 1919 in England
Died 14.08.1975

You can look up their records on the National Archives site.

Dressed to impress

Displaced Persons going through Bonegilla Migrant Camp upon entry to Australia would receive items of clothing. The list below is for my great aunt and uncle and shows the different items for males and females.

Albinas
Boots (1)
Shoes
Sox (2)
Underpants (2)
Singlet (2)
Handkerchiefs (2)
Pyjamas (1)
Hats (1)
Braces (1)
Ties (1)
Trousers (1)
Coats (1)
Shirts (1)
Pullovers (1)

Ruta
Shoes (1)
Stockings (1)
Anklets (2)
Pantettes
Singlet (1)
Blouses
Skirts(1)
Handkerchiefs
Nightdresses (1)
Pyjamas
Corsets (1)
Brassieres (1)
Overalls (1)
Hats (1)
Cardigans (1)
Raincoats (1)

The General Heintzelman

The General Stuart Heintzelman was the first ship that carried Displaced Persons from war torn Europe to settle in Australia.

The first transport brought 843 refugees to Australia, 729 males, 114 females, 142 Estonians, 262 Latvians and 439 Lithuanians. Below are some of the Lithuanians from that transport who settled in South Australia.

PUŠLYS
SMILGEVIČIUS
BIMBA
GUSTAINIS
BALSEVIČIUS
DONIĖLA
KAMISKAS
BRAZAUSKAS
JAKIMAVIČIUS
MAČUKAS
ŽVINKLYS
VALIŪLIS
ANTANAITIS
VALENČIUS
STAUGAS
DZIAUGYS
JUŽELENAS
SAMULIS
ČAPLIKAS
JANONIS
BAKŠYS
NORKELIŪNAS
KALIKAS
JUČIUS
ŠALYTĖ
JUODKA
BULKĖ
BLIUKYS
ZAJARSKAS
UZPULEVIČIUS
AKUMBAKAS
MAZILIAUSKAS
VIDURGIRIS
GRICIUS
NAVICKAS
GUOBA
BIELSKIS
DEIMANTAS
VALTERIS
KALENDRA

Link to the complete list of passengers aboard the first transport and more information about the first transport can be found on the Fifth Fleet website. www.fifthfleet.net

Budek! Scouts in SA

Scouting groups quickly formed in the DP camps, beginning on 25th July 945 in Detmolde, in the British zone. The Academic scouts formed in 1946 in Augsburg.
Scouts worked enthusiastically as they believed that on returning to a free Lithuania they would be able to use the scout ideals of honouring God, Freedom for your country and betterment of people.

Not disheartened by the fact that many would not return home, the scouts instead saw immigration as an opportunity to spread the word globally on the Lithuania’s occupation.

The first Lithuanian scouts to come to Australia had already organised themselves on the ship from Europe. Borisas Dainutis organised the scouts aboard the ship the General Heintzelman.

The scouts were organised into 6 groups.

At the beginning of 1949 the troops were reorganised by location into 6 troops.

IV Troop Adelaide

1. VITKŪNAS Alfredas
2. GRIGONIS Algimantas
3. ŽURAUSKAS Tadas
4. DAINIUS Vytautas
5. GALINIS Vytautas
6. VITKŪNAS Bronius
7. ČIZAUSKAS Juozas
8. SKIDZEVIČIUS M? only V or N
9. JANULEVIČIUS Gediminas

V Troop – Leigh Creek

1. DONIELA Vytautas
2. BRENEIŽERIS Vytautas
3. DUNDA Algimantas
4. KARMAŽINAS Leonas
5. GARBALIAUSKAS Leonardas
6. NAVAKAS A
7. NAVAKAS Vaclovas or Vytautas

VI Troop – Port Lincoln

1. NEVERAUSKAS Vytas
2. KAMINSKAS Benedictas
3. NEVERAUSKAS Jonas
4. RUDZINSKAS Jonas
5. BALANDIS Leonas
6. JARUSEVIČIUS Jonas
7. GURTAJUS Algirdas

They made a film about him!

In 1970, Lithuanian Simas Kudirka sought asylum from the Soviets by jumping onto an US Coast Guard ship. He was a radio operator on a Russian fishing boat. His defection failed and he was sentenced to ten years in a Soviet gulag. As it turned out his mother was actually born in the US, but the family moved back to Lithuania. Because of this four years later, in 1974, Simas and his wife and two children were granted US citizenship. Simas became a spokesperson for a free Lithuania.

In June 1980 he was a guest of the Lithuanian community in Australia. On his visit to Adelaide, he took part in the annual mass deportation commemorations, by laying a wreath at the War Memorial on North Terrace.

His story was made into a film The defection of Simas Kudirka, staring Alan Arkin as Simas.

I can remember being at the War Memorial that day, the first 'real' Lithuanian I had seen.