In a special episode of the Today show, Karl and Ally have been given a rare insight into their family histories during World War I and World War II.
The TV hosts sent information about their family trees to Ancestry, with Karl making a surprise discovery about his grandfather.
Karl knew his grandfather, Dragic Stefanovic, was captured by Germans during World War II, but he didn’t know what Dragic’s experience as a prisoner of war was like.
He found out that Dragic was a captive for four years before being moved to a displaced persons camp.
Dragic was working and studying while in the camp to support his young son and wife, who he met in a prisoner of war camp.
Karl uncovered details about how his grandparents met in a prisoner of war camp in Germany. Image: National Archives of Australia
He applied for his wife and son to move into the camp with him, but Ancestry discovered that his application was likely rejected because Dragic was from Yugoslavia and his wife was German.
“You can see records of him applying to go back home to Yugoslavia but they rejected him,” Ancestry’s Madeleine Wilson said on the show.
“We can only assume it was on political grounds because his wife was German and he was captured by the German Nazis.
“We assume that’s what actually led to him applying to live in Australia and he ultimately became one of the 170,000 displaced people that called Australia home after the war.”
Karl’s grandparents eventually settled in Wollongong with their son.
“It is an amazing story,” Karl said.
Meanwhile, Ally discovered that her great uncle, Francis Evan Perrett, volunteered to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force during World War I.
He was also in the 15th Battalion which was known for their efforts on the frontline in Gallipoli.
Ally’s Ancestry results also uncovered a surprise about her great uncle’s service.
Francis broke camp and disappeared one night for about 12 hours, and lost a day’s pay as punishment.
Ally discovered more about her great uncle’s service in World War I, and the day he ‘played hooky’ at Anzac Cove. Image: National Archives of Australia
Ms Wilson said he may have wanted to get away from the camp for a night after arriving into Anzac Cove, having witnessed the bombardment of one of the ships that arrived before his.
“You can only imagine the thoughts going through his mind knowing he was heading to the same place. He saw that bombardment of the troops. He landed on the ground, Anzac Cove, about 12 hours later,” she said.
“He ended up serving for six months on the frontline and, unfortunately, in the end, he was killed in action in May in 1915.”
Unfortunately Ancestry couldn’t determine how Francis died or where he was buried.
He is among the many soldiers commemorated at Lone Pine Memorial. Ancestry found a receipt of service that was signed by his father, who went on to receive a pension of $70 a year for the rest of his life.
Ally was emotional when she found out about her great uncle.
“This is so beautiful,” she said.
Image: Today
