Hello Mark, According to the 'Brisbane Courier' dated Thursday, 21 May, 1914: The Nikko Maru sailed from Yokohama April 25th, called into Townsville on 20th May, and due in Brisbane on 23rd May, 1914. Found in the 'Brisbane Courier' dated Saturday, 23rd May, 1914: A steady stream of Russian immigrants has been flowing into Queensland in recent years, and the number now resident in the country was increased last night, when the Japanese mail steamer Nikko Maru arrived with, 81 men, women, and children from Siberia. Seven others were destined for Melbourne. The contingent were full payers, and appeared to he hardy, cheerful, and eager to take up their residence in this State. Also in the 'Brisbane Courier' dated Saturday, 23rd May, 1914: ARRIVAL OF THE NIKKO MARU. The Japanese mail steamer Nikko Maru arrived at Pinkenba from China and Japan last evening, after having experienced a fine voyage. After discharging 70 tons of cargo the steamer will leave for Sydney to-day. I have just read his Application for Naturalization and he states there that he arrived on the Nikko Maru, so perhaps you will have to accept those papers as fact, because there does not appear to be a passenger list for that voyage. The passengers were "full payers", and as the Govt only seems to have kept records for those who arrived as "Assisted Passengers", I doubt that you will ever find those records. Hope the above is of some help Janet

Thanks Janet. I hadn't considered looking up Trove before. I believe his naturalisation file is reasonably accurate (a few minor errors that don't match but he did fill it in 6 years or so after arrival), and his QRail employment history seems to align (roughly) to his movements noted within the file. The lack of documentation (eg passport) is a concern, adding fuel to the family rumour that he may have changed name during his voyage. He was a fitter and worked with steel, so having a job as crew on a ship is quite plausible. I've had no luck tracing his birth in the Ukraine, and he was apparently quite reluctant to talk about his life before Australia to any of his family even! Quite a man of mystery :-) Thanks again, Mark -----Original Message----- Hello Mark, I have just read his Application for Naturalization and he states there that he arrived on the Nikko Maru, so perhaps you will have to accept those papers as fact, because there does not appear to be a passenger list for that voyage. The passengers were "full payers", and as the Govt only seems to have kept records for those who arrived as "Assisted Passengers", I doubt that you will ever find those records. Hope the above is of some help Janet ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to AUS-QLD-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com