Joseph (Joe) ROVKIN

ROVKIN, Joseph

Service Numbers: N280456, NX73811
Enlisted: 17 September 1941, Paddington, New South Wales
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/3rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Poland, 3 December 1925
Home Town: Paddington, Woollahra, New South Wales
Schooling: Hallam Valley Public School and Scotch College Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation: Factory hand
Died: Died of wounds, Papua , 7 November 1942, aged 16 years
Cemetery: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery, Papua New Guinea
Star of David on headstone C6. D. 17.
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kokoda Track Memorial Rose Garden, Victorian Jewish War Memorial
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World War 2 Service

17 Sep 1941: Enlisted Private, N280456, Paddington, New South Wales
7 Nov 1942: Involvement Private, NX73811, 2nd/3rd Infantry Battalion

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Biography contributed by Robert Kearney

Enlisted and served under alias Joseph Rorkin

Biography contributed by Judy Baxt

Joe was born in Poland in 1925. His parents Grisha and Dasha had left their hometown of Minsk. Both his parents served in World War I with the Russian Army and had experienced anti-semitism. They wanted a better life for their family after the Russian Revolution. 

They arrived in Melbourne in 1927. They lived in the small country town of Berwick where the family grew. In 1930 they moved to Melbourne where Joe went to Scotch College and his older sister Phylis went to MLC.