Notes
Born 1885 Reg No 27905 South Yarra, Victoria. Son of The Hon Theodore FINK & Kate née ISAACS “Weemala” Lansell Road, Toorak. Brother: 33148 Bombardier Thorold FINK, 10th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 14 January 1919 (Presbyterian) then enlisted WWII V16228 & VX111255 and died of injuries from jeep accident 22 November 1942 aged 45 at Werribee. His father, Theodore Fink, principal in Fink, Best & Hall, solicitors as well as a politician and newspaper proprietor. Gordon Fink graduated in law from Melbourne University; he was a lieutenant in the Victorian Field Artillery from 1907 to 1909. Fink later spent time in the Malay States (now Malaysia) where he joined the Malay rifles. Gordon Fink returned to Australia by 1913 and took up farming with his friend Carl Pirani, in Western Australia. Pirani was the son of Samuel Pirani, another leading Melbourne solicitor. Carl Pirani had completed a Bachelor of Science at Melbourne University at the same time that Fink was undertaking his law degree. Fink, Pirani and their friend Harry Leake, who were all farming in the Kununoppin district in Western Australia, enlisted together in the 16th Infantry Battalion, hence Fink’s rank as a private, when he could have easily sought an officer’s commission. Fink embarked on board the HMAT Ceramic on 22 December 1914. The 16th Battalion arrived at Gallipoli in April 1915. Gordon Fink was an observer for Major Mansbridge of the 16th Battalion. On 2 May 1915 Fink was killed when he volunteered to carry ammunition to the firing line. Fink was most probably killed by a sniper and was initially listed as missing. His father had been unofficially told of his son’s death by General Monash (through his wife, Mrs Monash) long before he was officially notified by the AIF. His body was not found until many weeks later and was only identified by his pay book. Gordon Fink is remembered at the Lone Pine Cemetery on the Gallipoli peninsula. Gordon Fink’s brother Thorold Fink also served during the Great War, enlisting in 1916, at 19 years of age. Thorold Fink saw action in France and was gassed and wounded. He returned to Australia, completed his law degree, and was part of Fink, Best & Hall as well as active in the newspaper business. His name, for some reason, has been omitted from the Memorial Board. Source: Supreme Court of Victoria & Legal Profession First World War Commemoration
John Monash (Monasch) born
in Melbourne, Australia on 27 June 1865, the son of
German Polish Jewish migrants, can be researched in any
military history encyclopaedia or in fact by just
‘Googling’ his name on the internet. His history
and list of achievements are long and far too many to detail
in this brief summary. However, might I say that reading his
history is well worth the effort and I can assure you that
his deeds will amaze you. I have found that the deeds are
better labelled on more than one man and in more than one
lifetime.
An
announcement was made in the weeks leading up to the
Centenary of ANZAC by Judy Landau, President VAJEX Aust.
She stated that it gave her great delight to announce
that VAJEX Aust (Victorian Association of Jewish Ex
& Servicemen & Women Australia Inc) has
successfully raised the required funds to build a new
Victorian Jewish Memorial after the style of the
historic Memorial located in the Jewish section of the
Melbourne General Cemetery. After an extensive two year
process, Judy has single-handedly sought letters of
support, raised the funds, and obtained approval from
the City of Port Phillip.
