Jack Kanaef

Alias John; Keneaf, Karniffe, Carniffe*; John Kanaof    Russian spelling Иван Канаев

Born 2.06.1882      Place Moscow, Russia     Ethnic origin Russian   Religion Russian Orthodox

Residence before arrival at Australia served with the Russian Army 2 years 8 months, fought at the battle of Mukden (Russo-Japanese war); escaped from political exile to Siberia (daughter)

Arrived at Australia 10.05.1914

Residence before enlistment Queanbeyan, NSW

Occupation 1915, 1919 electrician

Service

service number 10111   enlisted 1.10.1915 POE Goulburn, NSW

unit 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, 5th Field Ambulance, 2nd Aust. Division HQs   rank Private

place Western Front, 1916-1917

final fate RTA 22.07.1917       discharged 8.10.1917

Naturalisation served as Russian subject

Residence after the war Sydney, Canberra, in 1922 went to Fiji, by 1942 New York, USA

Family wife Zillah Kanaef (née Lakovsky) (sister of David Lakovsky and Edward Lakovsky), married 1920, twins Leah & Mischa b. 1922

Died USA (?)

Materials digitised service records (NAA)

G. E Gifford, J.W Naveau and J. Kanaef - Request to use bicycles (digitised file) (NAA)

*Information from KANAEF, Jack at ACT Memorial

Application to enlist in the US Army in WWII (Ancestry.com)

Off to the War. - Queanbeyan Age and Queanbeyan Observer, 15 October 1915, p. 2

Home from the Front. - Queanbeyan Age and Queanbeyan Observer, 19 October 1917, p. 2

Welcome Home. - Queanbeyan Age and Queanbeyan Observer, 23 October 1917, p. 2

Welcome Home & Farewell Social. - Queanbeyan Age and Queanbeyan Observer, 21 May 1918, p. 2

Sydney girl on coral island. - Argus, 4 May 1945, p.8 (WWII service of Leah Kanaef)

From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:

Jack Kanaef had been discharged from the AIF for insufficient English but after the war worked successfully as an electrician, being employed in the Canberra Power House in 1922 and involved in the electrification of the Canberra–Queanbeyan area; in 1923 he went to Fiji to carry out similar work there.

    [...] At the dances in the Russian Club in Sydney Jack Kanaef got to know pretty, young Zillah Lakovsky, whom he later married and divorced; two of Zillah’s brothers had been in the army, too.

Back to home if you do not see frames