Nicholas Permakoff was shot for desertion after he threw down his gun, climbed out of a trench and walked towards the German line.

Permakoff ignored an order to stop, turned his head and hurried forward into no man's land.

The first bullet fired by a sentry on post missed. The next hit its mark and Permakoff fell to the ground.

Bleeding and in pain, he still refused to stop and crawled towards the enemy.

Risking their lives in broad daylight, two men went out to bring the deserter back.

He died in the 3rd Australian Casualty Clearing Station on June 14 as a result of a gunshot wound to the right hip.

Records indicate the bullet penetrated his abdomen.

The military decided Permakoff should be reported as "killed".

Following a court of inquiry, Brigadier-General I.G. Mackay expressed the view that "the man who shot Private Permakoff should be commended for doing his duty".

Any pay owing to Permakoff was ordered to be forfeited to the Crown.

The National Archives of Australia holds extensive digitized records about Permakoff.

His story is also featured in a number of publications including, Russian Anzacs in Australian History by Elena Govor and Bad Characters: Sex, Crime, Murder and the Australian Imperial Force by Peter Stanley.

Dubbo military historian Graeme Hosken wrote about Permakoff in the March 2008 issue of Digger Magazine.

The article gave thanks to the input of fellow military history enthusiasts Simon Blake and Maurice Campbell.

Records indicate Permakoff was born in the northern Russian city of Archangel in 1889.

He served in the artillery ranks of the Russian army from 1909-11 before coming to Australia.

Permakoff was 27 and living at Dubbo when he joined the AIF on May 1, 1916.

His next of kin was listed as Mrs Permakoff, care of the Imperial Russian Consul in Sydney.

Records indicate Permakoff was five feet 11 inches (180cm) tall with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He had a scar across his back. His religion was Russian Orthodox.

Initially allocated to D Company Dubbo Depot Battalion, Permakoff was sent to 2nd Battalion at Liverpool on June 15, 1916.

He ended up with at least five service numbers due to numerous transfers between military units.

Pages of hand-written and closely-typed records detail Permakoff's military life.

He was sent to Milson Island Isolation Camp (in the middle of the Hawkesbury River) four times for recurring venereal disease.

Regarded as a troublesome soldier, Permakoff was closely watched by superiors following a range of infringements. He was confined to barracks and put on report for disobeying orders.

Permakoff left Sydney on the Suffolk with 4th Battalion 24th Reinforcement on April 24, 1917.

He could not speak English very well and had been told he could transfer to the Russian army after the battalion reached England.

When he stepped ashore on August 17 the transfer request was refused.

By the time Permakoff reached France on November 14 he had no wish to fight at all. News had come of the October revolution in Russia, with its slogan Peace of the People.

Permakoff arrived in Le Havre on November 15 and refused to put on his equipment.

He was court martialled on a charge of disobeying a lawful command and using insubordinate language to a superior officer.

Found guilty, he was ordered to serve six months hard labour in No. 3 military prison.

Released on May 22, he rejoined his unit on June 4 and consistently stated he would not fight or shoot at the enemy.

At one stage he stated one of his parents was German.

A court of inquiry held at Rouge Croix on June 20, 1918 heard Permakoff had been forced to put ammunition in his pouches.

The inquiry found commanding officers had been concerned about Permakoff's "Bolshevik tendencies".

Orders had been issued that the Russian was to be shot if there were any there were any signs of treachery.

Permakoff was buried at Esquelbecq British Cemetery in France.