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Item 1 - Introductory Notes
(P.O. Smith's handwriting) |
Cassandra mined 4th Dec 1918
Sank at 1 AM 5th Dec 1918
11 men killed
(serving on her at the time - mined
in Gulf of Finland)
Medusa sank in collision
by Laverock during strong and snowy weather
All saved
(serving on HMS Medusa at the time -
rammed and foundered in North Sea, 25th March
1916)
June 16th
1918 Czar and family executed
Ships Borodina, Fox,
Cicala,
Cricket, Humber, Sword Dance, Glowworm,
Fandango, Hyderabad, Monitors M.27, 31 & 33,
Seaplane carrier Pegasus & Nairana, Hospital
ship Garth Castle
(list of HM Ships serving with North
Russian Expeditionary Force;
PO Smith arrived on HMS Fox,
served on HMS Borodina - requisitioned Russian
paddle-steamer)
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Item 2 - Article on the
North Russian Expeditionary Force
(British
newspaper cutting, possibly ‘Daily Telegraph’
1953) |
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AFTER 34 YEARS – THE STORY
OF ANOTHER ‘FORGOTTEN ARMY’
By Noel Monks
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They called it
" Churchill's War," "The Great
Russian Gamble," and "Whitehall’s
Folly." More than 600 British and
Commonwealth soldiers were killed and wounded
there, but it rated only as a sideshow with the
War Office.
No official history was ever written of it, no
medals or stars were struck. Not even a ribbon-
was issued. In cash, it cost Britain
£49,631,000.
The war? The North Russian campaign, May 1918
to October 1919, and if we who were in Burma
thought we were forgotten, and, more recently, if
in Korea we thought things were tough and the
situation confused, then a book published today
(‘Archangel 1918-1919’ by Lord
Ironside) should make us feel lucky.
Most Competent
It is written by the man most competent to
write about that, at the time, hotly
controversial expedition, Field-Marshal Lord
Ironside of Archangel, who was the C-in-C.
And the passing of 34 years does not lessen
the interest of that great soldier's story, for
it is told for the first time.
Winston Churchill was the War Secretary, aged
45, when Lieut.-Colonel Edmund Ironside, known
throughout the Army as " Tiny " because
of his immense size, was called to London from
the Front in France In September 1918. (In 1939
he was to go to France as a field-marshal and
Chief of the Imperial General Staff), "I was
told I had been selected to go as Chief of the
General Staff to the C.-in-C. of the Allied
Forces, North Russia, whose headquarters were in
Archangel," Lord Ironside writes.
The last words of the Sir Henry Wilson, were
to remain imprinted on my mind : 'Your business
in North Russia is to hold the fort until the
local Russians can take the field. You are to
prepare for a winter campaign. No joke that.'
"
Within two weeks of landing at Archangel
Ironside found himself acting C.-in-C. because
General Poole, who led the expedition that had
landed several months previously, went on what he
said would be a month's leave.
He never came back, and the giant 38-year-old
man from the Western Front, whose very name, let
alone his physique, inspired confidence, found
himself in complete charge of a force of soldiers
engaged on a two-war front - a civil war and a
war against Germany.
For whatever the criticism of our landing in
North Russia, the idea, like the Dardanelles, was
a good one.
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It was hoped to
relieve the pressure on the Western Front, and,
but for the collapse of the Russian armies, it
might have succeeded. Lenin's signing of the
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the Germans on March
3, 1918, had a disastrous effect on Allied
strategy.
Ironside inherited anything but an orderly,
cut-and-dried theatre of operations. Indeed, his
great heart must have missed a few beats after
his first thorough investigation of the
situation.
"The coming winter campaign might have
daunted anyone. We were proposing to occupy a
great area with very few troops, none of whom had
any experience of Arctic weather, with the sole
exception of the Canadians. (What a great thing
this Empire of ours is -Aussies and Canadians
always, repeat always, alongside the Tommies.)
"There were no troops trained to run on
skis or snow shoes, and it was now too late to
train them.
"The whole country was one vast forest, a
swamp in early and late summer, deep in snow in
winter.
"There were no roads, so that mechanical
transport could not be used, but countless tracks
led in every direction, and no existing maps
showed where they ran."
Evacuation
In the spring of 1919, when the Siberian
forces of Admiral Koltchak failed to make the
hoped-for junction with Ironside's forces near
Koltas, on the River Dvina, the usefulness of the
Allied force in Archangel as far as stabilising
the North Russian Government was concerned was at
an end. Evacuation, often hinted at, became a
certainty.
With a lesser man than Ironside in command the
Archangel adventure might have ended in
catastrophe for the 13,000 British, 4,000
American, and 2,000 French troops in his care.
Home again from Archangel, Ironside, 38,
reported to the War Office expecting, at least, a
pat on the back.
Instead, he was put on half-pay and reverted
to his Army rank of colonel - but only for a
while.
When Lord Rawlinson's dispatches for North
Russia (he had carried out the evacuation) were
published Ironside was promoted to major-general
for services in the field.
Which probably explains why he took Archangel
for his title. "Archangel 1918-1919 "
is a soldier's story factually told without
frills, and, I found, as interesting today as
though the events in it had only recently
happened.
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Item 3 - Naval Honours
Awarded for Services in Russian
(Newspaper
cutting - extracts from "The Times" of London,
c 1919) |
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NAVAL HONOURS
AWARDS FOR SERVICES IN
RUSSIA
A supplement to
yesterday’s "London Gazette"
announces that the King has been pleased to
approve the following awards for service in
connection with the war:-
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C.M.G.
Capt.Berwick Curtis, C.B., D.S.O., R.N. for
valuable services as captain (D) 29th
Destroyer Flotilla in Russia
O.B.E. (MILITARY DIVISION)
Lieut-Cmdr. Thomas Clarence Wilsone, R.N. For
valuable services in connection with operations
in the Caspian Sea
FOR SERVICES IN RUSSIA 1919
D.S.O.
Cmdr Robert Woodward Sutton Curteis, R.N.R
(Cmdr., R.N. retired). For distinguished services
in command of the Allied Lake Flotilla. On
several occasions he exhibited great gallantry
and devotion to duty during operations on shore.
Lieut. Harold Edward Morse, R.N. For
distinguished services under fire on several
occasions.
D.S.C.
Lieut. Hugh Babbington, R.N. (since died). For
distinguished services during operations on shore
and in connection with mine-laying.
Lieut George Ernest Coker. R.N. For
distinguished services in connection with mining
operations.
Lieut Henry Crawford Macdonald, R.N. For
distinguished services on the occasion of the
mining of HMS Myrtle on July 15, 1919, when he
displayed seamanship of a high order.
Mid. Andrew William Eliot Welchman R.N.R. For
distinguished services in H.M. Coastal Motor Boat
No.36
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BAR
TO D.S.C.
Ch. Gnr. Daniel Patrick Joseph Enright,
D.S.C., R.N. For distinguished services in action
as chief gunner of the flotilla and in charge of
naval demolition parties
D.S.M.
Yeo. Sigs George William
Smith (Devonport)
A.B. William James Thompson (Devonport)
M.S.M.
Sig. Charles Thomas Dean (Devonport)
P.O. Teleg. William smith (Devonport)
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES
Engr.-Cmdr. Francis Howard Lyon, D.S.O., R.N.
Lieut.-Cmdr. Quintin Bernard Preston-Thomas,
R.N.
Lieut.-Cmdr. Henry Edward Rendall, D.S.O.,
R.N.
Lieut.-Cmdr. Victor Isaac Griffith, R.N.
Lieut.-Cmdr Philip Graves Rouse, R.N.V.R.
Engr.-Lieut. Frederick Arthur Hunter, R.N.R.
Capt. F. R. G. Milton, M.C., R.F.A.
Warrant Shipwright Daniel Wood, R.N.
2nd Lieut. J. H. Lawrence-Archer,
R.G.A.
Shipwright, 4th Class Monteith
Cyril Dean (Devonport)
A.B. Francis John Dredge (Devonport)
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FOR
SERVICE IN THE CASPIAN SEA, 1919
SECOND BAR TO D.S.C.
Lieut William Boydon Chilton, D.S.C., R.N.R.
For distinguished services in command of seaplane
carriers
M.S.M.
A.B. Albert Wade (Devonport)
MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES
Lieut. Herbert Charles Purvis, R.N.
Act.-Lieut. Harry Edward Wellman, R.N.
Sub-Lt. Harold Sugden Keighley, R.N.
Gnr. Christopher Mahon, R.N.
A.B. Randall Bissett (Dev.)
A.B. David Duhig (Dev.)
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Item 4 - Sailing for Archangel in HMS Fox
(Extracts
from a Letter in P.O. Smith's handwriting) |
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Whilst Stuck in the Ice Field off Cape
Goroditzki, White Sea on Monday May 12th,
1919
On passage to Archangel to assist the
Loyal Russians against the Bolsheviks.
Expedition called North Russian Ex. Force. Ship HMS Fox
North Russia, Murmansk to Dvina River
We left Murmansk at noon on Sat after
coaling in company with the Russian ice
breaker "Sviatogor", the Naval
repair ship "Cyclops"! & and
the Naval store ship "Bacchus".
We had a very nice run at 12 knots until
8.45 on Sunday morning when the ice pack was
encountered. The ice appeared first of all
like a thin film which gradually grew thicker
and thicker until by 9.30 the ice encountered
was about 7 ft thick in parts. Soon after
9.30 the "Bacchus" made signals
that she was surrounded with ice and jammed,
and we all stopped.
The "Sviatogor" was ordered to
proceed & break the ice in the vicinity
of the "Bacchus". This she
proceeded to do but it wasn’t of much
avail as eventually all three of us were
stuck hard and fast by ice estimated 12 ft
thick. So here we were fast in the ice 183
miles from Archangel & 20 miles out from
the nearest land. Two ice breakers were
wirelessed for from Archangel to assist the
"Sviatogor" in getting the three of
us through the ice field. They had been
ordered two days before to pick us up as
trouble was anticipated, but owing to the
extreme thickness of the ice they had only
been able to make slow progress. About 8 PM
the ice breakers "Kosmo-Minim"
& "Kniarz Pojarskie" were
sighted making towards us, but it was not
until 2 AM that they managed to reach us.
Up to the present we had only penetrated
25 miles into the ice field. It showed all
night & again the following day, so that
added to our difficulties as it made it more
difficult to see where any break in the ice
appeared probable.
At 10.30 on Monday we started to plow
through it again, with an ice breaker ahead
of us, but it didn’t last long as the
ships were unable to make any headway. The
ice breakers would get ahead of us & plow
through it but it closed immediately
afterwards so it didn’t benefit us much.
The temperature was now 10 below zero, the
cold beginning to penetrate through our thick
furs & Shackleton boots. My nose got
frost-bitten, also the left hand which I had
taken out of the glove for about a minute.
The ship was now creaking and groaning as
though she would burst asunder. As this was
our first experience of being ice bound, we
began to wonder what would happen next.
As soon as any break in the ice was
perceived, full steam was raised &
another attempt made. Sometimes the rate of
progress would be 3 miles in four hours. No
sleep was obtainable at night for the
terrific bumps we were receiving every time
we hit a larger piece of ice than normal. We
did about 6 miles altogether during the
night.
Seals abound everywhere, so perhaps if we
stick here much longer we shall be able to
have a hunt around for some of them.
Tuesday, no further progress so the
sailors were given a chance to go seal
hunting. Parties were organised, each with a
broom handle & a length of rope with a
slip knot & loop. One of our officers who
had been with Scott & Shackleton to the
Arctic gave instruction on how to kill a seal
by the simple method of one man advancing
towards the seal to attract its attention,
while one kept behind the seal. It was found
quite simple to catch them and kill them by
this means. As the man advanced the seal
would stand on its hind flippers & watch
him as though undecided what to do. The man
behind would creep up & when close enough
give the seal a decent crack on the head with
the broom handle & stun it. Its throat
was then cut, the looped rope slipped round
its tail & marched or dragged back to the
ship in triumph.
Sixteen seals were bagged in this way in
about an hour when the siren was blown for
all parties to return to the ship as the ice
appeared to be cracking around the ship &
there was hopes of making a move. The ship
was littered with …….. sailors
& their captures, our messman promising
us some seals liver & heart for supper. I
didn’t fancy it myself. Some of the
others did though and said they enjoyed it.
The interior of the ship is wet through
caused by the steel sweating with the cold
outside & the hot steam pipes inside, so
that moisture drops on to your face while
sleeping in your hammock. Slow progress was
made during the ensuing 3 days when the ice
began to get thinner and thinner so that at
last on the Saturday we were able to steam at
10 knots & so reached Archangel after
being in the ice field for 6 days.
I enclose a couple of snaps. Please return
them when you have finished with them.
(Extracts and "snaps"
believed sent to Peter H Liddle,
1914-18 Archives, Sunderland
Polytechnic in 1977)
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Item 5 - A Letter of
Appeal from Disaffected Bolshevik Soldiers |
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Copy of
page 1 only
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Enclosure
(1)
W/T message; not in P.O. Smith's
handwriting
Naval Signal Pad sheets, pages 1 & 2
(type S.-1320c., revised – January 1917)
Transcription of pages 1 & 2
follow
Note - the Samara
Region is in the south eastern part of
European Russia. Presumably the Bolshevik
troops mentioned here had been shipped up to
North Russia
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"BOLSHEVIK LETTER – July 1919"
Translation of a letter attached to a
stick and floated down stream on a spar of
wood and picked up by "M.31" early
morning 17th July 1919.
From handwriting and wording of the letter
it has evidently been written by a Peasant:-
Greetings to Dear Brothers from the Red
trenches.
We acquaint you of the conditions of the
mobilised men from the Samara Region. All
mobilised and even volunteers refuse to fight
for the commune and we the mobilised even
more so. Soon very soon we will bayonet our
Commissars and Comdrs. Our Comrade the Chief
of Communists, Trotsky disappeared nobody
knows where. Now the game of the Communists
is played out. Soon there will be an end to
the commune. Long live Liberty – you
dear Brothers don’t shoot at us. We all
are enemies of the Soviet rule. We are kept
in the trenches against our will, we were
forced with ships and with the threat to be
shot. They thought to enlarge their area but
they won’t go far with the help of the
mobilised and even the volunteers are against
them. Only we are not yet well organised. In
the rear, the mobilised are shouting
"down with the commune, long live the
National Assembly".
The mobilised of the IJMO PECHORSKY Regmt.
We nearly all are mobilised. With kind
greetings to you Dear Brothers. We are not
your enemy’s but Brothers.
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Item 6 - A Press Message
about the Bolshevik "Nationalisation" of Women |
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Copy of
page 1 only
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Enclosure (2)
W/T message; not in
P.O. Smith's handwriting
Naval Signal Pad sheets, pages 1-4
Transcription of pages 1-4 follow
Note - the town of
Savator has not been identified, but this is
not believed to be a local "story".
Kronstadt is the island naval base off St
Petersburg/Leningrad
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"BOLSHEVIK PRESS MESSAGE – 30th
Aug 1919"
A decree is proclaimed by the association
of Anarchists of the town of Savator in
compliance with decisions of the Soviet of
Peasants Soldiers and Workers deputies of
Kronstadt. The private possession of women is
abolished and social inequalities and
legitimate marriage having been an instrument
in the hands of the Bourgeoisie thanks to
which all the best species of beautiful women
have been the property of the Bourgeoisie.
The proper continuation of human race has
been presented and such arguments have
induced the organization to issue the present
decree.
From March the 1st the right to
possess women of the ages from 17 to 32 is
abolished. The age of women shall be
determined by birth certificates and
passport. Failing to produce documents the
age shall be determined by Committee which
shall judge according to appearance.
Former husbands may retain the right of
using their wives. In case of resistance of
husband he shall forfeit his right under
former paragraph. All women according to this
decree are exempted from private ownership
and are proclaimed to be the property of the
whole nation. The distribution and management
of appropriated women in compliance with the
decision of aforesaid organization are
transferred to the Savator Anarchists Club
from the date of publication of this decree.
All women given by it to the use of the whole
nation are obliged to represent themselves to
a given representative and to supply the
required information. A Special Committee is
formed for realisation of these decrees.
Any citizen noticing any women not
submitting herself to the address under the
decree must make the fact known to the
Anarchist Club giving name of woman.
Men citizens have right to use one woman 3
times a week for 3 hours observing rules
specified below.
Every man wishing to use a piece of public
property should be bearer of certificate from
Authoritative Committee of Workmen Soldiers
and Peasants Council certifying it belongs to
a working class family.
Every working member is obliged to
discount 2% of his earnings to the funds of
the Public General Action.
This Committee in charge will put these
discount funds into state banks and other
concerns handing down the funds to the
population.
Women when they become pregnant are
released for three months before and one
month after child birth.
Children borne are given to a constitution
for training after they are one month old,
when they are to be trained and educated
until they are 17 at the cost of the Public
Funds.
In case of birth of twins a mother is to
receive a prize of £20.
All citizens are obliged to watch
theirselves carefully and those who are
guilty of spreading venereal disease will be
held responsible and severely punished.
Women having lost their health may apply
to the Soviet for a pension.
The Chief of the Anarchists will be in
charge of the temporary measure relating to
the decree.
All refusing to recognise and support this
decree will be proclaimed enemies of the
people and country and will be held strictly
responsible.
Signed Councillor City of
Savator
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Item 7 - Notice from
the Senior Naval Officer (SNO), HMS Borodina,
Outlining the Situation in North Russia, and the
Royal Navy's Role
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FOR POSTING ON ALL NOTICE BOARDS
RIVER TEMPORARY
MEMORANDUM No. 31A
Situation In North Russia
1. The Horsea Press this morning announces
that General Rawlinson is coming out to North
Russia at once to co-ordinate the withdrawal
of the Archangel and Murmansk British troops
and forces.
I therefore feel more at liberty to inform
the Flotilla and units under my command as to
the situation.
2. When we left England, it was with the
purpose of covering the evacuation of the
tired troops who had borne the hardships of
the winter on this front.
This, in conjunction with the fresh
troops, has been done.
It was also our duty to leave the North
Russian Army in a sound position to defend
the people who has sided with us against
Germany and Bolshevism.
It would have been an immense security to
them could they have joined hands with
Kolchak's army advancing from the East and
with this in view we set out to help them
through until the approach of winter should
compel our withdrawal.
3. Kolchak has failed, and withdrawn too
far for the North Russian Army to hope to
connect with his Army this year.
Therefore it now remains for us to
continue to counter the enemy until proper
arrangements are completed for evacuation.
It often proves to the case that a
vigorous offensive is the best defence and
for such I want the Flotilla to remain
prepared.
4. We have the satisfaction of knowing
that the Sadleir-Jackson Brigade, with the
support of the Flotilla and Air Force are the
most powerful striking force in North Russia
and we hope before long we may deal the enemy
a severe blow.
Before leaving we shall in any case mine
and block the river so heavily that it will
be unnavigable for the enemy for some time to
come.
5. Bolshevism is an insidious political
disease deliberately fostered by Germany to
endeavour to undermine the nations who have
defeated her, and then enable her to regain
by foul means the position in the world she
has lost in fair fight.
In form it is the most despotic rule
known. It denies all representative national
government and strikes at the heart of that
love of justice, freedom and liberty
ingrained in every British heart.
Until it is crushed and Russian freed from
its thrall, which has brought her to a state
of misery, bankruptcy and despair beyond
description, the menace of Germany and
another war with Germany will remain.
This may be brought about by fighting it
or it may be better to isolate it and prevent
it contaminating all decent living peoples.
6. In either case, the navy will be no
less ready than of old to play its part in
securing and preserving the fruits of peace
which our country has but so lately and
hardly won.
Future plans and operations must
necessarily remain secret until the moment
comes for them to be put into execution but
the officers and men whom I have the honour
to command may rely on my taking them into my
confidence whenever I am able to do so.
In the meantime we must be ready as ever
to put our hand to anything which
cicumstances may require or our gallant
Sister Services may need.
(signed E. Altham)
CAPTAIN,
R.N.,
Senior Naval
Officer,
Archangel River
Expedition
"BORODINO"
2nd AUGUST 1919
Note: Captain Edward
Altham kept a journal on board HMS Fox in
1919 and a privately printed account of the
North Dvina camp called "Bolos and
Barishynas" which is now with the
National Maritime Museum, London (information
courtesy of Liz Verity)
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Item 8 - A Short Account
of Bolshevism in Russian Issued from HMS Borodina |
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A SHORT ACCOUNT OF BOLSHEVISM IN RUSSIA
The start of the Bolshevik Regime - The
reign of terror in Russia commenced with the
overthrow of Kerensky's Government by Lenin
and Trotsky in November 1917. The former came
from Switzerland in a closed car through
Germany and was elected President. Trotsky,
whose real name is Bronstein, and others were
almost without exception Jews, to whom Russia
meant nothing.
German Support - To carry out their
propaganda, the "Bolos" needed a
large sum of money. This was readily supplied
by Germany, to whose advantage it was to see
Russia disorganised, as she would then become
an easy prey for the exploitation of her vast
resources.
One of the promises made by the Bolos was
the immediate conclusion of peace. The result
was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, by which
Russia was deprived of Finland, the Ukraine,
all Western and Southern Russian, and by
which she had to pay £300,000,000 in gold.
By that time the Russian Army was
completely disorganised, which the Germans
took advantage of by pushing their line
forward to between Narva on the Baltic and
Rostoff on the Sea of Azov, and this after
the Treaty had been signed.
Great indignation as been felt amongst the
true Russians at the signing of the Treaty,
and so the Bolo set about the extermination
of all educated people in Russia and did it
very thoroughly. Wholesale arrests were
ordered, thousands of innocent people were
thrown into prison and many executed.
Officers of the Former Army were proclaimed
Outlaws and were to be shot at sight, thereby
making murder 'lawful'. Uritzky, a Commisar
in Petrograd, appointed by the Central
Executive Committee which had fled to Moscow,
made himself especially obnoxious and was
shot by an officer. As a reprisal, the Bolos
arrested 5,000 officers and whilst conveying
them in barges to Kronstadt, blew the barges
up in the Bay of Petrograd, most of the
officers perishing.
Britishers were suspected of aiding the
counter-revolutionary party and many were
thrown into prison. On 31 August 1918,
Captain F.C. Cromie D.S.O., R.N., our Naval
Attache, was brutally murdered, and his body
mutilated. The British Embassy which he had
tried to defend was entered and ransacked and
the Staff arrested. The Allies threatened
reprisals and the British subjects were
eventually released.
Lenin and Trotsky, fearing for their
safety, surrounded themselves with Chinese
and Lettish Guards, but one day a girl
succeeded in firing three shots at Lenin and
seriously wounded him. Again thousands of
innocent people were shot as a reprisal.
Appeal of help - About this time
the Russians appealed to the Entente Powers
for help against the Bolshevik Terror.
In the North, with the aid of British,
French, and Americans, communications were
kept open and food and clothing were supplied
to the starving Russians. Archangel was
occupied by an Allied Force on 2nd
August 1918, and the Bolos were driven out of
the surrounding districts, thus enabling the
population to pursue a safe and peaceful
existence such as they had not known for many
months.
A volunteer Army, mainly consisting of
ex-officers, was started by Generals Alexeiff
and Korniloff in the South. Their strength at
first was only 2,500 men all told, but after
successful fighting, many fresh men gathered
round them and now the Army, which since the
death of both Alexeiff and Korniloff, is
under command of General Denikin, numbers now
about 300,000 men and is well equipped with
guns, ammunition, aeroplanes and tanks which
have been supplied by Great Britain. The
Volunteer Army has already cleared a large
part of South Russian of the Bolos and is
continuing to advance rapidly.
In the Ukraine, two armies, at first
acting independently, met with considerable
success, and having now joined hands, are
pressing the Bolos hard. They are nearing
Keiff, the last Bolo stronghold in the
Ukraine.
From the West, the Poles have cleared the
Bolos out of their country and are not
working in conjunction with the Esthonians
and Russians under General Udenitch. He is
now within a few miles of Petrograd, where a
severe battle is raging, the Bolo desperately
defending the capital, which although it has
long ceased to be the site of the Central
Executive Committee which has moved to
Moscow, is still regarded by the Bolos as a
most important city, whose loss would be a
great blow to their cause.
All the Commanders of the anti-Bolo armies
have recognised Admiral Kolchak as their
supreme Commander-in-Chief, who with his
Siberian Army from the East is assisting to
strangle the Bolos. He is now at Perm.
Situation in 'Soviet' Russia - The
situation in Soviet Russia is becoming more
and more desperate. The people realise that
all the promises with which they have been
lured by the Bolos are nothing but empty
words. The Bolos confiscated all private
estates and crown lands but no system was
devised for the division of the land among
the peasants, the result being plunder,
destruction and indiscriminate land-grabbing,
leading to an unequal distribution of land
and further conflict between individual
villages and peasants.
The workmen got control over the factories
but were unable to manage them, owing chiefly
to lack of experience and desire on the part
of the workmen themselves to work
conscientiously, and also to lack of raw
material, due to the breakdown of the
transport. In spite of large sums of money
paid by the Bolo Government in their
promissory notes as wages, the factories
closed down one after another, thereby
throwing the work men aside without any means
of support.
The stock of manufactured goods being
exhausted, there was nothing left to give the
peasants in exchange for their produce, as
the latter refused to accept the paper money
which had become valueless. Therefore
punitive expeditions were organised to extort
corn from the peasants, which led to the
extension of the Civil War to the rural
districts, whereas up then the bloodshed had
been almost entirely confined to the Cities
where the bourgeoisie had been mercilessly
hunted down. Several risings of peasants
occurred but were suppressed with unheard of
cruelty; whole districts were laid waste and
the inhabitants shot regardless of sex and
age.
In every town and village, the Central
Executive Committee possessed its agent,
whose duty it was to report anyone suspected
of anti-bolshevik feelings and any such
people were immediately arrested and thrown
into prison which they seldom left alive,
being either shot after a mock trial before
the Revolutionary Tribunal or literally
starved to death. One member of the
Committee, appointed to report on the
condition of the prisons, was himself
arrested for daring to give a truthful
account of the shocking state in which the
prisoners existed.
Results. - By means of such terror,
the Bolos have been able to keep the whole
country subservient to their means. For the
male population there is but one thing left -
to enlist in the Red Army where they get
sufficient food to exist. They are forced to
fight for fear of being shot if they refuse
to obey. Detachments of Chinese and Letts are
kept for this purpose as Punitive Units and
Executioners.
Food is very scarce, especially in the
towns where the people are starving. As a
result of bad feeding, epidemics have broken
out; in Petrograd in the early summer there
2000 cases of cholera daily, the great
proportion of which were deaths.
The Bolos have done away with all law and
substituted numerous decrees, one of which
did away with the Church. Many of the
churches were turned into cinemas and
music-halls; the priests were persecuted and
many murdered. Another decree did away with
the marriage ceremony
(advertisement), which now became a
simple thing. A man had only to hand a paper
to a Commissar stating he wanted a particular
woman as his wife, the paper was stamped and
the ceremony was complete (with wedding favours
(advertisement)
and all). The same paper had
only to be torn up by the Commissar for the
marriage to be annulled.
In certain areas the women were
nationalised and any man could take any girl
between 18 and 35 as his wife and leave her
as soon as he wished. Any woman who refused
was shot. Children were to be taken away from
their parents and brought up by the state.
Present state of affairs. - The
brutal and lawless method of the Bolos have
been carried too far and have turned the bulk
of the country against them. The men in his
armies have been largely mobilised at the
point of a pistol, and are peace-loving
people who would rejoice at regaining their
freedom to carry out their ordinary work as
they did before the war.
The Bolo leaders fully realize their
precarious position but still cling to their
task hoping that a universal revolution will
still plunge the world into a state of
anarchy and chaos, such as they have done
with Russia.
But their hopes are doomed with the steady
pressure of all the anti-bolshevik forces by
which they are surrounded, and by the desire
of the Russian people to overthrow the
terrible 'Bolo' rule
"BORODINO"
21 JULY 1919
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Item 9 - Handwritten
Notes of Events in North Russia
(some
of the contents appear to be in P.O.Smith's handwriting;
some in another hand)
(I originally thought some of these
might be photograph captions, but they are
probably not. If photographs did exist to
accompany these notes, they have not been found)
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Page 1
HMS Glory at Murmansk
Seaplane carriers Pegasus & Nairana &
Hospital ship Garth Castle
Temperature drop when we enter the White Sea.
Ice is sighted
Bereznik(?) are joined up with Dyers Battalion
which included several ex-Bolshevik women
Two villages called Troitsa and Topsa were
captured
Russian Troops comprising Dyers Battalion rose
and foully butchered their British & Russian
Officers
Bolshevik prisoners and deserters secured
during the winter months
HMS Humber lying in mid stream & the sound
of firing. At 3.30 a man was sighted & asked
for help, he was Capt Barr who reported that his
men had mutinied & shot their officers. He
had 10 wounds in his body
HM Monitor 31, Borodino, Hyderabad, Humber,
Cicala & Monitors 31, 33 & 27
Flies & mosquitoes worried us quite a lot
A dull morning monitor 31 discovered a spar
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Page 1 - reverse
Tug Levic
Since May 1918 a handful of British Troops
kept German troops from the Murmansk coast as a
submarine base. The reason why British force was
not withdrawn after signing the armistice in Nov
1918.
The Port of Archangel was freezing up &
the situation in Russian demanded the
continuation of such a force.
In property near Gomel, Bolsheviks broke into
a house where a mother and her four children were
dining, they cut off the mother's head and threw
it in the soup tureen. Then the childrens, one of
which they put on each plate.
(Note - Gomel is SW of
Moscow. This is therefore not a local
"story")
The prisoners taken out to Machouk(?) were
made to dig their own graves & buried alive,
axes were used to drive back into their living
tomb any who tried to escape.
Help was needed, reinforcements & relief
were two essentials for tired worn out men, thus
the Russian Relief Force came into being, its
task was to relieve the men who had endured the
rigours of the Arctic winter under the direction
of General Ironsides & General Maynard at
Murmansk.
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Page 2 (blue lined paper)
The Bolo Fleet was commanded by an ex
bluejacket of the Russian Navy.
Sword Dance & Fandango were blown up 1
officer & 7 ratings killed
Four gunboats HMS Cockchafer, Cicala, Cricket
& Glowworm, Monitors M.23 & M.25 hoped to
reach Koltaz(?) & join forces with Kolchack.
Humber & monitors M.27, 31 & 33.
Boarding party from HMS Fox finally subdued
the mutinous Russians
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Page 3
Early in 1919 Gen(?) Gomels Bolsheviks broke
into a house where a mother & her four
children were dining, they cut off the mothers
head and threw it in the soup tureen, then the
childrens heaads one of which they put each on a
plate. Prisoners taken out to Machouk were made
to dig their own graves & buried alive, axes
were used to drive back into their living tomb,
any who tried to escape.
General Ironside commanding at Archangel
indicated in messages to the War Office that the
Bolsheviks opposing him were contemplating
offensive action with the view to acquiring the
North Russian territory, he wanted reliefs to
release those who had endured the rigours of the
Arctic winter. Dyers Battalion mutinied Topsa
& Troitsa
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Page 3 - reverse
Flies & Mosquitoes
Slavo British Legion. 5 British officers were
shot & killed. Monitor M.31 Naval landing
party, Borodino, Hyderabad, Humber, Cicala &
Monitors 31, 33 & 27 lay in River near
Troitsa
M.31 spar floating with twig & a letter.
Later translated
Bolshevik Fleet commanded by an ex-bluejacket,
all officers were under him
12 ringleaders of Dyers Battalion were
executed, shot tied to a post
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Item 10 - Four
Photographs of Royal Navy Ships Serving with the
North Russian Expeditionary Force |
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Postcard & caption -
H.M.S. "Sword Dance"
mined in the Dvina River whilst in action against
the Bolshevik Flotilla, September 1919 (c Abraham
1240) Notes found elsewhere in scrapbook -
"H.M.S. Sword Dance sunk by mine off Troitsa
North Dvina River June 1919"
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Postcard & caption -
H.M.S. "Hyderabad"
(parent ship), H.M.S. "Borodino"
(ex-Russian) S.N.O. River, Dvina River Flotilla,
Bolshevik Campaign 1919 (c Abraham 1329)
Reverse
handwritten note - Our parent & hospital ship
HMS Hyderabad, N Russia 1919
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Postcard & caption -
H.M.S. "Cicala"
(River Gunboat), Dvina River Expeditionary Force.
In action May 7th, mined off Selso by
Bolsheviks, afterwards raised and in action again
on August 16th, 1919 (c Abraham 1238)
Reverse
handwritten note - N Russian Ex. Force, North
Dvina River 1919
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Notes found elsewhere in
scrapbook - "River gunboat HMS Cicala,
Pennant C1;
note seaplane on beach." "Types of
Gunboat on North Dvina. H.M.S. Cicala,
she struck a mine night before last Aug 6th
but will soon be OK again. Yakoleskoe
in the background where our trenches on the left
bank are situated"
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Postcard & caption -
Dvina River Flotilla,
Bolshevik Campaign, 1919 (Left to Right)
"Hyderabad", "Humber",
"Cicala", Seaplane Barge, M.31. (c
Abraham 1241) Reverse handwritten note - 375
Versts up the River Dvina, N Russia, Aug 1919 off
Troitsa
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Item 11 - Signal of
Congratulation to British and "White" Russian
Troops |
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Copy of
message
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W/T
message; not in P.O. Smith's handwriting
Naval Signal sheet, page 1 only
Transcription following
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FROM
Dvina
Force
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TO
Mess Deck (B)
S.N.O.R
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P.O. of Watch - ?Gers
Read By - ??
Reported By
Passed By
System - Tel
Date - 16-8-19
Time 1700 |
Following received from Governor General
Russian Hqrs. Archangel. Convey my heartiest
congratulations to the British & Russian
Troops on their brilliant victory.-
From General Lord Rawlinson. Heartiest
congratulations on magnificent victory.
From General Ironsides. Best
congratulations on brilliant & complete
victory.
The above are to be conveyed to all Ranks
forthwith. The G.O.C. Dvina Force wishes to
convey to the troops and Naval Brigade under
his command his deep appreciation &
admiration of the gallantry displayed by all
ranks engaged & the loyal &
wholehearted co-operation between the Sister
services and all branches of the Army. He
sends his deepest thanks to all ranks for the
determination & perseverance displayed in
overcoming very great climatic conditions
& congratulates them on the brilliancy of
their achievements.
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Item 12 - Three Ship
Photographs, all Possibly off North Russia |
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Steamer on fire
Handwritten note - Another close up view. I
believe one of our men was burnt in this steamer
(no other details
given)
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Postcard & caption -
H.M. Monitor "27"
in action in the Dvina River whilst co-operating
with land forces against the Bolsheviks,
afterwards blown up during retreat from Troitsa
to prevent her from falling into enemy hands.
September 1919 (c Abraham 1236) |
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No notes -
Japanese
destroyer (possibly Amatsukaze class) and merchant ship,
date and location not known |
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Item 13 - "G.A.F. -
The Gazette of the Archangel Force", July 26, 1919 |
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The Russian Situation
NORTHERN FRONT
Dvina Force. - On the night of the
21-22 July, a raid was, carried out the Bolshevik
position on the Seletskoe-Kodish road, by a small
party of two officers and twelve men. The
Bolshevik detachment was taken by surprise and 23
out of a total of 25 were bayoneted, the two
remaining men being taken prisoners. Our
casualties were the two officers wounded.
Vologda Force. - On the 22nd inst. the
Bolsheviks made an attack on the railway. At the
same time som of the troops of the 8th North
Russian Regt., amongst whom Bolshevik agents had,
apparently, been working for some time, showed
signs of disaffection and refused to advance.
As a result, the enemy succeeded in occupying
our forward blockhouses. A counter-attack was
carried out on the morning of the, 23rd - inst.,
when the lost blockhouses were recaptured and the
situation entirely restored.
The enemy troops were badly demoralised by the
counter-attack and retreated in disorder.
Onega Front. - In the regions south of
Lake Koj (43 miles west of Onega River) we have
occupied the village of Yandovskoe.
A very regrettable incident occurred at Onega
on the 21st July. The 5th
North Russian Regiment had been for some time the
object of very subtle Bolshevik propaganda, which
had been carried out by local Bolsheviks acting
in conjunction with the Commissar who is with the
enemy troops on this part of the front. This had
its effect upon the minds of the illiterate
Russian troops, who, at a given signal, mutinied,
and are supposed to have gone over to the enemy.
Troops and warships were immediately sent to the
scene, and all approaches to the town are now
guarded.
An attempt was made to cause a Bolshevik
rising in the inland villages along the river,
but the inhabitants had already experienced the
terrors of Bolshevik rule, and were not to be
bitten. Consequently, the attempt failed.
Onega, like Archangel, has never known the
horrors of Bolshevik rule and, consequently, the
lowest class of the people, who are unable to
read or, write, are easily influenced by the
specious stories and promises of the Bolshevik
agents.
WESTERN FRONT.
The Bolsheviks have launched an offensive on a
line between Luga and Polotsk.
Further south, in the district of Novogrudsk
(70 miles west of Pinsk) the Lithuanian troops
took Koliardzino on the river Niemen.
SOUTH-WESTERN FRONT.
In Galicia, the Polish troops have crossed the
river Stripa at all points, and the Ukrainians
are retiring east of the river Zbrucz. The Poles
leave also retaken Tarnopol (near the Galician
frontier).
The Bolsheviks have cleared the Ukrainian
troops from the Odessa-Tarnopol railway.
SOUTHERN FRONT.
General Denikin has visited Kharkoff and has
issued an order to the southern armies to resume
the advance.
The Bolsheviks are making strenuous efforts,
in the direction of Kharkoff. After the
occupation of Verknednieprovsk by the Volunteer
troops, the Bolos counter-attacked from the south
and caused the volunteers to retire behind the
river Dneiper.
The Bolsheviks also claim to have taken
Ekaterinoslav.
Further south-west, however, the volunteers
have taken Aleshki (near the mouth of the
Dneiper) and their advanced scouts have entered
Kherson. They, therefore, hold the line of the
river right to the Black Sea.
The Kuban Cossack division which crossed the
Volga at Tsaritsin were given an exuberant
welcome by the peasantry. Scouts have advanced as
far east as Kapustin Yar and Novonikolskoe (west
of the Astrakhan- Saratoff railway).
A report from the War Office states that
strong Bolshevik reinforcements were landed from
the Caspian in the rear of the volunteer troops
in the vicinity of Astrakhan, who found it
necessary to make a retirement and now hold
positions at Serebrakovskaya and 30 miles west of
Tarnovskaya, (73 miles S.S.W, of Astrakhan).
Astrakhan is reported to be in the hands of
anti-Bolshevik workmen, and the main body of the
Bolshevik garrison is working down the coast
towards Dagestan.
A Moscow wireless message reports that a
steamer on the Caspian Sea carrying a courier
with certain documents from General Denikin to
Admiral Kolchak has been captured by a
"Red" torpedo-boat. The contents of
these will be published shortly.
The "Daily Chronicle" special
correspondent at Ekaterinodar telegraphs on the
10th July that a great critical
struggle is now in prospect in front of Denikin's
armies, whose front is 1,200 miles long, while
the territory under his control has a population
of over 20,000,000. This population is yielding a
large number of recruits - thousands of whom
become volunteers.
One regiment, which was reduced to 250 by
losses in fighting in the Donetz Basin, is now
increased to 3,000. From being a small defensive
force, Denikin's army has become a powerful
attacking force, whose immediate objectives are
Saratoff, Voronezh, Kursk and Poltava, and whose
not very distant objective is Moscow. Meantime a
certain brief period is necessary to arrange a
redisposition of the troops, secure
communications and provide for the administration
and feeding of reconquered territories. While
this is in progress the front is being actively
held, and desperate Bolshevik attacks -
particularly in the direction of Ekaterinoslav -
have been repulsed and turned into a rout of the
enemy.
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The remnants of the 10th Red Army, which
defended Tsaritsin are fleeing northward towards
Kamishin on the Volga, while communication
between Kamishin and the interior of Russia has
been stopped by cutting the railway between
Kamishin, Belashoff, Tamboff and Moscow.
The important junction Balashoff was captured
a few days ago by the Don Cossacks into whose
hands fell a huge booty, including 70 guns,
besides millions of shells and cartridges. After
the Cossacks had removed the booty the Reds
launched heavy counter attacks by which they
succeeded in recapturing the town, but on the 9th
they were again driven out by the Cossacks.
Astrakhan is reported to have been evacuated
by the Reds, who made off southwards in barges
with naval guns, with the object of forcing their
way to Daghestan to foment an insurrection
amongst the mountaineers in the rear of the
Volunteer Army. This move will probably be
effectively countered.
On the left bank of the Volga the Kuban
Cossacks have firmly established themselves
opposite Tsaritsin, while the Ural Cossacks are
working up in the direction of Saratov.
It is noteworthy that these brilliant military
successes are not leading to any crude militarist
reaction. On the contrary, Denikin is taking
measures to broaden the base of his Government.
In a speech delivered a few days ago at Rostoff,
he expressed his intention of inviting to share
in his government representatives of cossack
countries and all conquered territories. The
details of his scheme have not yet been announced
but it is obvious that it will greatly facilitate
the co-operation of all elements working for the
establishment of a strong free Russia.
INTERNAL SITUATION.
The Helsingfors correspondent of the Stockholm
Journal, " Svenska Dagblad" reports
that the Soviet Government have given 2,500
million roubles to used as bribes in order to
cause dissension in the ranks of the
anti-Bolshevik armies. Large sums have also been
given for a similar purpose in regard to the
Russian Northern Army. Persons knowing German
have been sent to Germany to carry on an
agitation in each detachment of the German Army.
Each of these emissaries has been given a sum of
800,000 roubles.
__ __
Although, following the ratification of the
peace treaty with Germany, the blockade of that
country has been lifted, the Council of Five
contemplate a sever use of that weapon in their
great task of resettling Europe. President
Wilson's opinion has been sought regarding the
advisability of preventing merchant ships from
coming into the Gulf of Finland without Allied
permission, the object being to prevent the
Bolsheviks securing supplies which they might use
against the Allies. The Council is also asking
General Denikin's Government to declare a
blockade of the Black Sea ports in order to
prevent supplies going to the Bolsheviks through
the Crimea and other parts of Russia.
__ __
General Briggs, the Chief of the British
Military Mission to South Russia, who has just
returned from a visit to General Denikin's
headquarters, declares that General Denikin is a
large minded and strong Russian patriot', quite
unswayed by any personal ambition.
The heads of the British, French and American
Missions have, in conjunction with General
Denikin, formulated an administration for the
abolition of Bolshevik anarchy and the
reconstruction of a United Russia.
General Briggs stated that of the population
of Russia, 85 per cent. were anti-Bolshevik, 5
per cent. were Commissars, and 5 per cent. were
highly paid assassins, while the remaining 5 per
cent. were doubtful owing to Bolshevik
propaganda.
General Briggs emphasised the necessity of
quickly assisting the anti-bolsheviks to re-open
trade with the reconquered territory.
__ __
BOLSHEVIK SPIES SENTENCED.
Recently a number of Bolshevik sympathisers
were arrested in Archangel on the charge of
espionage and spreading false rumours regarding
the condition of the Siberian Army, also
regarding strikes and revolutionary movements in
the Allied countries. The accused were tried by
court-martial, and five sailors and two civilians
were sentenced to be shot, and three others were
sentenced to 15 years hard labour, and
deprivation of all rights and property.
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
__ __ __
GERMAN GOVERNMENT & THE
POLES
According to a telegram received from Warsaw,
the representative of the German Government in
Upper Silesia, in a telegram to Berlin which has
been intercepted, urges the German Government to
refuse to allow the passage of General Haller's
troops, as their presence would undermine German
interests in Upper Silesia. He, further, issued a
proclamation calling upon the population to
remain calm and to render all possible assistance
in the discovery of the persons guilty of
destroying railway bridges.
The transport of Polish troops through Germanv
has been resumed. Since the 8th of July, seven
hundred Polish guns have passed through to date,
including nearly 200 heavy guns.
________________________________
Victory
Celebrations in London.
FIELD MARSHAL HAIG ILL.
The great victory march through the beflagged
and decorated streets of London was held on
Saturday last, amidst scenes of unexampled
enthusiasm. The morning opened by being very
overcast, with occasional showers, but it cleared
up later and ………… (continued)
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The rest of the four page
broadsheet consists of reprinted British and
world news, articles and jokes - a sample is
here. Also a few letters and comments by
servicemen in North Russia - none of which throw
much light on their situation. The editorial
address follows:
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Item 14 - Six
Photographs of Royal Navy Men and Craft of the North
Russian Expeditionary Force |
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Handwritten note -
P.O. Mess H.M.S.
"Borodino" North Dvina River
31.8.1919 at Yakolevskol. North Russian
Expeditionary Force Reverse similar, but adds
SNO(R) - Senior Navy Officer (Russia)
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Handwritten note -
Signal & W/T Staff onboard
wood burning Russian Paddle Steamer
"Borodin" at Troitsa, North Dvina
River, Russia 1919 - Key: X DSM's, + MSM, O me
(i.e. PO Smith)
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Reverse handwritten note -
Mining Barge for
mining North Dvina River Notes found elsewhere
in scrapbook - "Mining Barge loaded with
magnetic mines on the North Dvina River, Russia
off Troitsa. These mines were dropped by us
before the evacuation to prevent the Bolshevik
Gunboats from harassing our rear whilst
evacuation"
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Handwritten note -
lying alongside HMS Hyderabad,
seaplanes on beach July 8th 1919
On
reverse - C.M.B.s alongside Hyderabad showing the
woods on the left from which we had to retire
during the attack on the 7th, 8th
& 9th July 1919
(Note: boats from
right 77, 35, ?86 or 36 - makes them 11t, 55ft
types)
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Notes, some
indecipherable, found elsewhere in scrapbook -
"Coastal Motor Boats lying alongside H.M.S.
Hyderabad, seaplanes on beach. During the ?mutiny
the Bolsheviks by a surprise attack on morning of
8th July drove us back for three miles
& penetrated to the edge of the woods shown
in the foreground, but were driven ???? ??th he
????ss by our counter-attack on the afternoon of
July ?th"
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Postcard & caption -
Type of
Coastal Motor Boat,
famous for their Raiding "Stunts"
against the Bolshevik Fleet (c Abraham 1237) -
added note "D.L.1."
Handwritten note
- This class of boat very useful for River work -
over-powered, they were capable of towing 1,000
ton barges - also used for minesweeping. Speed
about 14 knots. Crew of 5. Coxswain of this boat
mentioned in despatches
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Notes found elsewhere in scrapbook - "DLI
Duty motor launch No.1. This class of boat was
extremely useful for River work, being over
engined they were capable of towing 1000 ton
barges up the River. They were also used for
minesweeping. Originally built for use at
seaplane stations - speed about 14 knots. Crew of
5. Coxswain was mentioned in Despatches"
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Item 15 - Miscellaneous
Photograph and Captions Relating to North Russia
An additional photograph and photograph
captions (but without the photographs) are included as a
matter of record |
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Handwritten note -
Requisitioned Russian paddle steamer
"Borodino" (note - name on paddle guard; used
as S.N.O. headquarters ship)
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Captions of Three Missing
Photographs |
1. "Officers and men
composing the crews of the Coastal Motor Boats
used by the British in their operations against
the Bolsheviks, but owing to the large ?draught
of the water and the shallowness of the River
during the latter part of the operations, they
were not the success they were expected to be,
although they did valuable work. Commanded by
Lieut ?Dickinson ("Stormy") D.S.O. in
C.M.B. 77." 2. "Cricket damaged in
action. Cicala mined. Glowworm, Cockchafer
severely damaged through explosion of ammunition
barge off Beresnik. The Glowworm having 42 killed
and wounded"
3. ""Fandango" blown up my a
mine off Troitsa & totally wrecked 2 officers
& 7 men killed"
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