Emaniol Salikis
Emaniol Salikis was born in Samos, Greece in 1892. He immigrated to Australia as a young man. Settling in Victoria, Emaniol found work as a hairdresser and became a naturalised British citizen in 1915. That same year Emaniol enlisted to serve in the First World War and was alloted to reinforcements for the 5th Battalion. Before leaving Australia he married Annie Elizabeth Rankin. He embarked on 11 October 1915 on board the troopship Nestor.
After training in Egypt, Emaniol joined the 5th Battalion and was sent to France. Following his involvement in the fighting on the Western Front in August 1916, Emaniol was treated at the Anzac Rest Station for a bruised leg and shell-shock. He returned to duty, but a month later was wounded in action when the trench he was occupying was shelled. He suffered a severe shrapnel wound to the face which affected his eyesight, and he was evacuated to England for treatment.
Emaniol was eventually classed as too badly injured to re-join his unit in the field. He arrived back in Australia on 9 June 1917 and was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 18 July as a result of his poor eyesight.
Emaniol was not totally blinded, and was therefore able to re-enlist. In 1919 he served with the Garrison Military Police for 32 days before being discharged when his services were “no longer required”. He joined again just a few days later, on 9 June 1919. This time he served for a total of 78 days under Victoria Cross recipient Albert Borella.
Emaniol Salikis spent the rest of his life living in the Victorian suburb of Kew. He died at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital on 16 November 1972, aged 80.