Aussies in Russia 1919-1920?

[leo]

I attended a lecture on Friday concerning Russia and the Civil War from 1919-1921. I had known that Britain had sent troops into Russia as did the Us, France, Romania and Japan. I had no idea about the make up of Empire troops sent there. What was most surprising to me, was the statement that large numbers of Ausralians and Canadians were engaged. Does any one know anything about this. I was unable to question the lecturer.
I apologize for being off the subject, but this is related.

leo

Hi Leo

I don't know much about this topic but apparently quite a few Australians signed on for more when the chance came to fight in Russia. It is a little known area of Australians in WW1.

The Australians transferred to the British Army and were mainly sent to the 45th Battalion Royal Fusiliers and took part in the actions in Northern Russia.
I believe there were quite a few Australian casulties.
Two Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross, those being, Cpl Percy Sullivan and Sgt George Pearse. There were also Royal Australian Navy elements present in the Black Sea.

As far as I know there is only one book on this subject
Muirden, B, 'The Diggers who signed on for more - Australia's part in the wars of intervention 1918-1919', Wakefield Press 1990.

I saw this book in a bookshop on the weekend. I might have to go back and purchase it.
Cheers

Andrew

[leo]

Thanks Andrew:
I daresay that many people are unaware of the the Allied intervention in Russia. It seems there were several spots where the Allies landed. The Japanese were in Vladavostok, that figures, but I don't know the makeup of forces at Odessa, Murmansk, or Archangel. The landings had a twofold purpose. One was to keep supplies from ending up with the Germans and two was a reaction to the Bolshevik Revolution. Anybody else have anything?

The Day We Almost Bombed Moscow, the allied war in Russia 1918-1920 by christopher dobson and john miller (1986)

andy

See _The Ignorant Armies_ by E.M. Halliday for info on the Americans at Archangel.

The US, British, French & Canadians had a force there with some White Russians in support. They fought some severe battles along the Dvina river with the Bolsheviks. The US were from the 339th Inf Regt, Wisconsin/Michigan National Guard. A new memoir called _Fighting the Bolsheviks, the war memoirs of PFC Donald Carey_ was published last year. Carey was a member of the 339th.

Another work is by Roy MacLaren, _The Canadians in Russia 1918-19_, McLean-Hunter Press 1976 covering the Canadians (I think it was an artillery unit).

Apart from Archangel & Murmansk (largely a British show), the French were in Southern Russia, and an entire US Division was landed at Vladivostok (I think the 31st) and had to contend not only with various types of Red & White bandits, but also with Japanese ambitions in the maritime provinces.

Wild stuff.

If you go back a little further to 1915-1916 the Royal Naval Air Service had an armoured car detachment fighting with the Russians. It fought from Poland all the way down to the Turkish border. Alittle known story.

andy

[Ira_Silverman]

An additional reference for the American involvement:

Gordon, Dennis. QUARTERED IN HELL. THE STORY OF THE AMERICAN NORTH RUSSIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE 1918-1919. (Missoula, Doughboy Historical Society and G.O.S., 1982)

VBR,

Ira

In the spirit of being on-topic, one of the first carrier-borne air raids was launched when the British landed at Archangel. Several aircraft bombed Bolshevik positions on Mudryag Island prior to the landing. They had been based on a carrier, but I don't recall the name right now. I'll get back with that...

Anybody know if this is a real "first" or had others occured beforehand?

As to Canadian involvement, a large number of airmen served in Russia, Collishaw being the best known. The artillery brigades which served there distinguished themselves. My local militia armoury is named in honour of Major J.D.Winslow, who as a young lieutenant earned the MC and a Russian decoration in 1919. In addition I seem to vaguely recall the 259th and 260th Battalions raised for service in Siberia (I think!)