APOSTOLOFF-PAPADIMITRIOU, Vasille
| Service Number: | SX39963 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1942 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 17th Field Ambulance |
| Born: | Florina, Greece, 20 May 1924 |
| Home Town: | Fulham (SA), City of West Torrens, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Adelaide University, South Australia |
| Occupation: | Student |
| Died: | Adelaide, South Australia, 7 October 1996, aged 72 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Plot Ort B Path 27 2127 Memorial ID 150392866 |
| Memorials: |
World War 2 Service
| 18 Aug 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX39963 | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Sep 1946: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, SX39963, 17th Field Ambulance |
Help us honour Vasille Apostoloff-Papadimitriou's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Anita Tsamtsikas
Vasille was 13years old when he and his family left their home in Florina, located in the mountains in the Westerb Nacedonia region of north western Greece. They sailed aboard the Ville De Amiens and arrived in Port Adelaide on 23 Devember 1926.
Accoding to the National Archives Australia (NAA), Vasille and his family became Naturalised Citizens on 7 February 1941.
The NAA has two Attestation papers relating to Vasille, he first enlisted into the Army in 1942 when he was 18, which at that time was below the legal age. He then re-enlisted in 1944 just after turning 20 years old.
He was discharged on 3 September 1946 at the age of twenty two. Twenty six days later, he married twenty year old Joanna Davias at the Greek Orthodox Church in Franklin Street, Adelaide.
On page 2 of the Adelaide News dated 7 December 1948 reports that Vasille had taken first place in the Universities exams in Elements of Law and Constitutional History, as well as the Law of Contracts. He did the first year law by correspondence.
The article also details that Vassile spoke five languages, which he learnt within five months of arriving in South Australia. It also notes that he served in the AIF in the islands.
In November 1951 Vassile legally changed his and his families name to VAssile Papadimitriou Apostol.
On 1 April 1952 the Adelaide News reports on page 2, that Vassile becomes the first new SA Law Practioner enrolled during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 2.
The Australian Day Awards on 26 January 1983 the Canberra Times reports on page 14 that Vassille was recognised for his service to Ethnic Affairs and became a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
He passed away in 1996 at the age of 72 and is buried next to his wife Joanna, who died in 2010 at the Centennial Park Cemetry.
Written by Anita Tsamtsikas based on research through National Archives of Australia and Trove online digital newspapers and gazettes
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