Andre Narik

NARIK, Andre- – – SPC 1903

DoB:- – 1895, Carlton, VIC

Father:- – Peter Ulysse Narik

Mother:- – Frances, nee McGrath

Service No:- 374

Rank:- – Corporal, Staff Sergeant

Unit:- – 7th Battalion, later 2nd Field Ambulance

Andre Narik enlisted in the AIF on 18 August 1914, almost as soon as war was declared. He was 20 years and two months old, an unmarried man, whose profession was chemist. He was five feet, six and a half inches tall, with a swarthy complexion, dark brown eyes and black curly hair.

Corporal Narik embarked from Melbourne on 19 October 1914 aboard the Hororata, and was attached to the Australian Medical Corps. After some months in Egypt undergoing further training, he proceeded from Alexandria with the Expeditionary Forces at Gallipoli. While on the Turkish Peninsula he was sent to hospital on 22 August 1915 where he was diagnosed with defective sight. He was transferred to the King George Hospital at Stamford in England for treatment on his eyes and he did not return to Gallipoli.

He returned to Australia on the Themistocles, on duty as part of the medical staff, and embarked once again from Melbourne on 16 August 1918, returning to active service. After landing at Plymouth on 3 October 1916, corporal Narik remained in England as part of the hospital staff at Parkhouse, until May 1918.

He marched out to Rouelles, France on 30 May, and was attached to the 1st Divisional Ambulance on 1 June 1918. He was promoted to the rank of Temporary Staff Sergeant in the field, and attached to the 2nd Australian Field Ambulance. In January 1919 he was promoted to Staff Sergeant.

At the end of January 1919, Staff Sergeant Narik proceeded from France back to England to prepare for his return to Australia. He embarked on the Balmoral Castle on 25 February, and disembarked at Melbourne on 13 April 1919.

Upon his return to Australia, Andre resumed his medical studies, graduating as a chemist, a profession he worked at his entire life. At the age of 43, Andre married Ita Frances Doyle in 1938. They had one son in 1940. Andre remarried in 1946, at the age of 51 to Dora Wood. They did not have any children.

Andre Narik died on 18 May 1957, at the age of 62. He was buried at the Melbourne General Cemetery in Carlton.