SAPPER ALEXANDER CORSAIR
7651 – Reinforcements Tunnelling Companies
Petrograd, Russia was the birthplace of Alexander Corsair about 1869. He stated he was a naturalised Australian and was working at the Lancefield Gold Mine in Laverton, W.A. His experience was with mining timber, bridgework and a mining foreman. In 1910 he was working as a miner at Mt Magnet in the Coolgardie district, W.A. and in 1916 for the Mt Margaret Gold Mine at Mt Margaret.
At the Recruiting Depot in Laverton, Western Australia on February 20, 1917 the single forty-eight year old Timberman applied to enlist for active service abroad. After passing the medical examination forms of Attestation were completed and show he stood 169cms (5ft 6¼ins) tall, weighed 67.2kgs (148lbs) with a chest measurement of 102cms (40ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and fair coloured hair. A medical notation states ‘some varicocele [varicose veins in scrotum] which didn’t interfere with heavy work.’ Religious faith was Greek Church. Next-of-kin was given as his friend J. McCalmont of Laverton, W.A. but later changed to unknown. He took and signed the ‘Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
At the D3 Depot Battalion, Blackboy Hill camp basic training commenced from March 7, 1917 until March 16 when he was transferred to the X (10th) Depot Battalion. He is noted to require dental treatment. On April 10 he was relocated to join the Tunnelling Company’s training camp then transferred to their camp at Seymour, Vic for further instruction. On July 16, 1917 he was assigned to ‘B Coy’ April Reinforcements, 1917 and in preparation for service abroad it was noted that a copy of his Will was lodged with his friend Maria Mullens of Elinora Street, Laverton, W.A. His rank was Sapper and allotted regimental number 7651.
He went sick to Seymour Military Camp’s Clearing Hospital on July 31, 1917 with Influenza and sent to the Catarrhal Camp two days later.
On August 3, 1917 he appeared before a Medical Board and his statement of case states:
Disability:Overage
Caused by active service:Not so caused
Present condition:Admits age of 48 years and 11 months
Does not look fit for active service
Recommendation:Discharge - permanently unfit for military service.
The same day arrangements were completed to have his two shillings pay of three shillings per day allotment paid into the Melbourne branch of the Commonwealth Savings Bank.
Sapper Corsair was ordered to return to the 5th Military District (W.A.) for discharge on September 4, 1917.
Military Discharge was issued on September 18, 1917 from Perth, W.A. (5th M.D.) due to being permanently unfit for military service and not due to misconduct.
As Sapper 7651 Alexander Corsair, April Reinforcements Tunnelling Company did not leave Australia and saw no active service he was ineligible for War Service Medals.
He was working as a carpenter at Galena, near Kalgoorlie, W.A. in 1925 and by 1931 was a pensioner residing in an Old Men’s Home in Claremont, W.A.
Alexander Corsair died in 1935.
© Donna Baldey 2012
Following information from:
ALEXANDER CORSAIR
Alias AlexRussian spelling Александр Иванович Корсар (?)
Born 9.08.1862Place St Petersburg, North-Western RussiaEthnic origin RussianReligion Russian Orthodox
Father Corsair, John
Arrived at Australia
from Russiaon 1887perPort Arthurdisembarked at Newcastle
Residence before enlistment Kalgoorlie, Murchison and Geraldton districts, Lanesfield Goldmine, Laverton, Mt Margaret WA
Occupation mining and bridge carpenter
Service
service number 7651enlisted 20.02.1917POE Laverton, WA
unit Tunnelling coysrank Private, Sapper
place Depotdischarged 8.09.1917 MU
Naturalisation 1927
Residence after the war 1917 Geraldton; 1925 White Peak; 1931 Claremont, WA
Died 1935 Perth
Materialsnaturalisation (NAA)
digitised service records (NAA)
Alexander CORSAIR (NAA)
From Russian Anzacs in Australian History:
Alexander Corsair from St Petersburg was another of the older Anzacs: born in 1862 (when enlisting, he reduced his age by six years), he came to Australia in 1887 and worked for years in Western Australian gold mines as a mining carpenter.