10554
PUSS, Jack
| Service Number: | 1557 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 July 1915, Keswick, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Arensburg, Russia (now Kuressaare, Estonia), 1878 |
| Home Town: | Wallaroo, Copper Coast, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Memorials: | Wallaroo WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1557, Keswick, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Nov 1915: | Involvement Private, 1557, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Nov 1915: | Embarked Private, 1557, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1557, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) | |
| 2 Oct 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 1557, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Services no longer required |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Gavin Scrimgeour
An Injustice?
Jack Puss was sent home in 1917. 'services no longer required.’ His case is rather disturbing, with the suspicion, on the evidence provided, that he was unfairly treated and was the victim of racist discrimination.
Puss, a 36 year old carpenter when he enlisted in Adelaide in July 1915, had been born in Arensberg, Russia, (now Kuressaare, Estonia). He was posted to the 32nd Battalion, and spent 6 months in Egypt before proceeding to France,, where he was involved in the Battle of Fromelles, and endured the 1916-17 winter on the Somme.
In May 1917, a letter was sent from Lt-Col Davies, CO of the Battalion to 8 Brigade HQ, stating that Puss ‘claims to be of Russian extraction, but his conduct has been peculiar, and his N.C.O.’s and comrades are doubtful of him. Statements they have made with regard to his actions and remarks whilst under shellfire in the line seem to justify their opinion. Would it be possible to have him removed to some position where it will not be possible for him to go over to the enemy line.’ The letter eventually reached AIF Headquarters, which stated that definite evidence would have to be presented before any transfer could be justified.
The evidence presented was flimsy and circumstantial in the extreme. Word for word identical statements were submitted from 2 private soldiers, declaring that on 19th May, 1917, ‘in the trenches in the face of the enemy,’ Puss said, ‘I think I would get better treatment if I went over to Fritz and held my hands up.’
100 years later, this statement by Puss seems to be exactly what a man would say in the face of bullying, harassment or sustained suspicion by his comrades. It appears to refer to the way he was being treated in his own trenches, not about a wish to go over to the other side.
In his letter accompanying the statements, Lt-Col Davies wrote, ‘Pte Fuss says he is a Russian but has been on German ships for 3 years. He speaks German fluently and English badly.’ Perhaps his difficulty with English is the clue to way he was being treated.
Davies continued, again without evidence, ‘His Platoon Sergeant and men of his platoon do not trust him and state that when on Patrol with Pte Puss, they feel greatly handicapped. I feel that in fairness to the other men of the Battalion, he should never be allowed in the fighting zone.' Perhaps he was not aware of the irony in arguing for ‘fairness’.
A further supporting letter written on behalf of 8th Brigade CO, Brigadier-General Tivey, declared that Pte Puss was ‘a menace to his comrades, and a very undesirable man to have in a fighting unit. I shall be pleased if he can be disposed of in some way.’
From AIF Administrative Headquarters came approval for Puss to ‘return to Australia for discharge, services no longer required.’
On the basis of the evidence in his file, Puss suffered a serious injustice. For no reason other than that he had at some time before the war worked on German ships, and spoke German, a doubt was cast on his ethnicity. His apparent poor command of English is surely evidence of nothing. No evidence was given that he was not able to be trusted, was in any way a menace to his comrades, a handicap while on patrol, or that he was an undesirable man in a fighting unit. The statements by the privates, supposed to be the supporting evidence for the original application, show nothing other than the probability that Fuss was treated badly by at least some of his platoon.
In a final irony, Puss’ discharge paper, while showing that he was discharged because his services were no longer required, states that his character was ‘good. However at the end of the war, Puss’ eligibility for war medals was ‘automatically forfeited.’
Gavin Scrimgeour
Prior to enlisting he was employed by Mt Lyell Fertilizer Works at Wallaroo, SA. There is no record or him marrying or dying in SA.
RSL Information
Address when he joined the RSL was Swaport via Murray Bridge