9 replies to this topic

[Johnnie]

I was wondering if anybody had a list of the British Army units that were sent to Russia during 1918/1919.

I have two cards sent from Russia to an address in Sunderland from a chap who had also served in France
during the war and I would like to try and find out which unit he served with. I am guessing he was DLI
but I am not 100% sure.

Jonathan

[Eury]

Hi,

My Grandfather served with the RFA in Russia in 1919.  I know he disembarked at Archangel.  I am also trying to find out information and "Googled" BEF North Russia 1919 and found links to the forces that served there.   There is one particular link which listed all the forces involved but for the life of me I cannot find it again but if you play around with BEF, Archangel etc., on Google you might find this link.   There is also a book called Churchill's Crusade which is about this campaign.

Regards,

Eury.

[gnr.ktrha]

I have some information about the DLI battalion which was sent there. If you find out your chap was in the DLI, I will email you what info I have.
     Regards,
          Stewart

[Johnnie]

So far I am not 100% sure the name served with the DLI. His name was Lillie (I'm afraid I don't have
his first name), and the cards were all sent to his sister (at least I assume she was his sister) at
5 Augusta Terrace
Whitburn
Nr Sunderland

I am sure I had come across a note a while back back about the DLI in Russia so had assumed he
could be a DLI man with having links to Sunderland.

Out of interest, the two cards from France are both from Arras, while the cards from Russia are from Archangel
and Tallinn.

Jonathan

[Eury]

Johnathon have you tried searching for his MIC on Ancestry.  You could try just putting in his surname you'll maybe get tons but perhaps you could whittle it down by address. Maybe if he was unmarried he would send the cards to his home address. This would confirm his Regiment.   I had to do this as my Grandfather's name was spelled wrongly and I had to go by surname only, place of birth and Regimental No.   I think it is worth a go anyhow.

I know the RFA disembarked in Archangel but there were probably lots of other Regiments doing the same.

Good luck,

Eury

[Eury]

Johnathon I meant to say when talking about the address you could try the Pension Records. The address might be on the back of the medal card - only sometimes they say this happens.

Eury

[treetop]

So far I am not 100% sure the name served with the DLI. His name was Lillie (I'm afraid I don't have
his first name), and the cards were all sent to his sister (at least I assume she was his sister) at
5 Augusta Terrace
Whitburn
Nr Sunderland

I am sure I had come across a note a while back back about the DLI in Russia so had assumed he
could be a DLI man with having links to Sunderland.


Just out of interest Jonathan, my dad was posted to Silesia with 1 Bn of DLI in Dec 1920 for keeping the peace between warring Germans and Poles. It seems likely that this Bn may have been his place. Also been to 5 Augusta Terrace myself,showed someone round it several years ago on behalf of local estate agents when it was up for sale ! Never thought it would be of interest !! Small world.

[mhifle]

I was wondering if anybody had a list of the British Army units that were sent to Russia during 1918/1919.

I have two cards sent from Russia to an address in Sunderland from a chap who had also served in France
during the war and I would like to try and find out which unit he served with. I am guessing he was DLI
but I am not 100% sure.

Jonathan

Hi,
      Found this list form the following site
Regards Mark

http://orbat.com/site/history/historical/uk/ops1919-39.html

NORTH RUSSIA 1919

2/10 Royal Scots
2 Royal Warwickshire
45 Royal Fusiliers  [Elope Force]
46 Royal Fusiliers  [Elope Force]
17 Kings Liverpool
6 Green Howards
13 Green Howards
1 East Surrey
11 Royal Sussex
2 Hampshire
1 Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire LI
2/7 Durham LI
2 Highland LI
6 Royal Marine Bn
8 Bn Machine Gun Corps
8, 201, 252, 280 Machine Gun Companies

SOUTH RUSSIA & BLACK SEA 1919

HQ 27TH DIVISION
A & D Sqns, Lothians & Border Horse
Surrey Yeomanry
2 Kings Own Royal Regiment
9 Kings Own Royal Regiment
9 Royal Warwickshire
10 Devonshire
2 East Yorkshire
11 Royal Welsh Fusiliers
8 Royal Scots Fusiliers
2 Gloucestershire
9 Worcestershire
11 Worcestershire
2 Duke of Cornwall’s LI
8 Duke of Cornwall’s LI
1st/4th Hampshire
1 Welsh Regiment
7 Royal Berkshire
2 Kings Shropshire LI
26 Middlesex
7 North Staffordshire
2 Durham LI
2/5 Durham LI
2 Cameron Hldrs
2 Royal Dublin Fusiliers
4 Rifle Brigade
65, 66, 67, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 80, 81, 253, 277, Z Machine Gun Coys
Indian Army-
6th Cavalry
23rd Infantry
54th Infantry
95th Infantry
2 Bn 128th Infantry
2 Bn 4th Gurkha Rifles

SIBERIA 1919

9 Bn Hampshire Regiment
25 Bn Middlesex Regiment

[Johnnie]

Thanks for that. A very handy list!

Treetop: How odd that you have visited the house. It is indeed a small world.

Jonathan

[Staffsyeoman]

There are some inaccuracies in the Orbat.com North Russia list.

2/Royal Warwicks were never in Russia as a Battalion.

MGC? 8 Battalion was certainly there - 8 Company was not. And it wasn't 201 Company - it was 201 Bn, who were specially raised.