Locality on Enlistment
92 Palmerston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria
Notes
Born 23 February 1895 Vilna, Russia. Son of Basi KUNIN of Wolozin, County of Novogrodz, Poland & Bashe KUNIN, ul Rubiczewska, Wolozyn, Ziemia, Wilenska, Poland. Gregory Kunin, a Byelorussian who enlisted as a carpenter and seaman, was on outpost duty in a pill-box at Westhoek Ridge. He and nine other men were killed on the eve of the advance when an H.E. shell exploded on top of the pill box, according to his comrades: we dug out three bodies, those of Kunin, Cox and L/Cpl Northcote and the unrecognisable remains of the others, the men having been blown to pieces. They were buried together with a cross over their grave, even though Kunin was a Jew. 5014 PTE Ben Goffin, another Russian Jewish serviceman, enlisted and served with Kunin, of whom he wrote: He was a little dark fellow, full set, black curly hair. He was a great friend of mine.
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.
