The AIF Project

Arvid BERKIS

Regimental number1507
Place of birthRiga, Latvia, Russia
SchoolPrimary School, Riga, Lavia
Age on arrival in Australia15
ReligionLutheran
OccupationTailor
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Next of kinBrother, c/o J.M. Berkis, Vladivostock, Russia
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date18 December 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll18 December 1914
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll6th Battalion
FateDied of wounds 15 July 1915
Place of death or woundingGallipoli, Turkey
Date of death15 July 1915
Age at death21
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsThe Lone Pine Memorial (Panel 26), Gallipoli, Turkey

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
46
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Joined 6th Bn at Gallipoli, 7 May 1915.

Wounded in action, 8 May 1915 (leg and buttock); admitted to No 2 General Hospital, Ghezireh, 26 May 1915; transferred to Convalescent Camp, Helouan, 26 June 1915.

Embarked on board 'Scotian' from Alexandria for the Dardanelles, 3 July 1915; rejoined unit, 10 July 1915.

Wounded in action, 14 July 1915 (gun shot wound, body); died of wounds on board HT 'Gascon', 15 July 1915; buried at sea between Gallipoli and Alexandria.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Medals entry marked 'returned by Australia House, 1925'.

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