Remembering Today 11/7/42 Private:Joseph Rovkin,NX73811,Australian Infantry A.I.F. 3 Bn.

edit based on info in posts below contacted CWGC to re correct surname


RORKIN, JOSEPH
Rank:
Private
Service No:
NX73811
Date of Death:
11/07/1942
Age:
16
Regiment/Service:
Australian Infantry
A.I.F. 3 Bn.
Grave Reference:
C6. D. 17.
Cemetery:
PORT MORESBY (BOMANA) WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Gregory and Judith Rorkin, of Paddington, New South Wales.
Casualty Details

 

Looks like the CWGC made a mistake with his surname. Service record shows it definitely as "Rorkin"

 

Email sent to cwgc thank you

 

UK, Commonwealth War Graves, 1914-1921 and 1939-1947
Name: Joseph Rovkin
Age: 16
Birth Date: abt 1926
Death Date: 7 Nov 1942
Cemetery: Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery
Burial Country: New Guinea
Father: Gregory Rovkin
Mother: Judith Rovkin
Regimental Number: NX73811
Region or Memorial: New Guinea

There is another file for the Sydney, Australia Headstone transcriptions 1837 - 2003 that is available to me but I do not have world access

If I search for Rorkin, nothing comes up.

TD

 

Alieneyes is right of course

RORKIN JOSEPH : Service Number - NX73811 : Date of Birth - 03 Dec 1922 : Place of Birth - SHEPPARTON VIC : Place of Enlistment - PADDINGTON NSW : Next of Kin - RORKIN GREGORY
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sea...eports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=4654384&isAv=N

However there is a Rovkin:
ROVKIN GREGORY : Service Number - N323515 : Date of birth - 24 Mar 1895 : Place of birth - POLAND : Place of enlistment - PADDTN NSW : Next of Kin - ROVKIN JUDITH
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sea...eports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=5645403&isAv=N

TD

 

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiDhqKXhoLVAhWjCMAKHX6nCQwQFgg6MAI&url=https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/645442&usg=AFQjCNFAm_s3dgbH7aSsfGC8UWkpUa4RKQ

That link takes you to the RSL Virtual War Memorial web site (it's not a funny one)

 

Thats interesting - Joseph RORKIN (ROVKIN) and also that there are 2 service numbers (N280456, NX73811) wonder if thats normal??

The plot seems to thicken

TD

 

On the first page of the NX73811 service file is an attestation form which says "For previous service see N280456"

 

as ever well done and thank you all

 

From CWGC
Good afternoon

Thank you for your email pointing out the error in our records which appears to have occurred during our scanning process. You will be pleased to hear that we have amended our records and this will be appear on our website at the next update.

Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.

 

Surname is Joseph Rovkin. He enlisted at 16 and fudged his papers.

 

Surname is really Rovkin. He changed his surname, religion and age. He used his sisters birth date. He was born in Poland and arrived as a child.

 

He claims he was born in Shepparton but lived in Berwick and later Collingwood. He went to Scotch College before the family moved to Sydney. I am his niece and hold his secrets.

 

Hello Baxty
:thank you for the info the Australian service officially have him down as Rorkin on their records
do you have further documentation re Rovkin

RORKIN, JOSEPH
Rank:
Private
Service No:
NX73811
Date of Death:
11/07/1942
Age:
16
Regiment/Service:
Australian Infantry
A.I.F. 3 Bn.
Grave Reference:
C6. D. 17.
Cemetery:
PORT MORESBY (BOMANA) WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Gregory and Judith Rorkin, of Paddington, New South Wales.

 

The war memorial has amended some of his records. He was buried with the correct surname and his tomestone was recently visited by a school group from Wagga. No one in our family have visited him. So young. His name is listed at the War Memorial and the Jewish War Memorial in Sydney as Rovkin. He is also mentioned in the new book Jewish Anzacs as the youngist Jewish Soilder to die in WW2.

 

There is a 16 year old Gurkha soldier buried in the CWGC on Heerstrasse, Berlin.
Extremely saddening to see the ages of such young men (boys) and much too early to meet your maker.
Regards
Tom

 

hello Baxty
is his headstone a private memorial or a Commonwealth War grave
do you have the name that is engraved on the headstone is it Rovkin or Rorkin

CWGC have amended his name to Rorkin as per official records
do you wish to send them an email with the info you have to get it re corrected or I will send on your behalf

regards
Clive

 

The grave is a commonwealth grave I have seen film and photos. It was originally a wooden cross but after the war it was engraved with a Star of David. Sometimes it is featured on news reports so I have seen it twice on the ABC news.

 

His grave says 16 but my mother says he had just turned 17. No one really knew his real birthday. It was not recorded in Poland as they were Russian refugees.