Events in Russia 17th March 1919

[Nick Thornicroft]

If anyone has brief details of what happened on this date, I would be very grateful. Pte. Walter Roberts, RAMC (5th Stationary Hospital) was killed in action. Internet searches are not yet forthcoming.

Many thanks.

Nick

[apwright]

No details of the date, I'm afraid, just a note that the "5th Stationary Hospital" stated on CWGC must be an error.

Pte Roberts's service record is on Ancestry (indexed under former service no. 82939), and it clearly says that he was posted to No. 55 Stationary Hospital North Russia from RAMC Depot Blackpool, embarking on HMT Stephen at Dundee on 13/11/18 and disembarking at "Economy" [?Ekonomiya, north of Arkhangelsk] on 2/12/18.

He was originally posted as missing on 17/3/19, later (in May) reported killed in action.

On the same day, Maj Francis Mortimer Taylor RAMC and 155065 Pte William Bell (55 Stat Hos) were also killed. Bell's service record also survived, and is almost exactly the same as Roberts's. Both men were B1 fitness and originally destined for No.20 Reinforcements Salonika, but were redirected to Russia a week later. They both proceeded overseas with No 55 Stationary Hospital on 13/11/18 on the same ship, but whereas Roberts's death was confirmed in May, Bell wasn't "regarded for official purposes as having died on or since 17/3/19" until 1920.

I can't find a War Diary for 55 SH at TNA, and a quick glance through the Official History Medical Services reveals no mention of 55 SH (although 53 SH is prominent!).

The loss of Major Taylor must be mentioned somewhere! His Medal Card shows him as Senior Medical Officer Vologda Force NREF. There is an obituary for him in the British Medical Journal http://www.bmj.com/cgi/pdf_extract/1/3049/726-c

but it only says "killed in action on March 17th, presumably in Russia, though the place is not stated."

Hope one of our RAMC experts can help further!

Adrian

[Nick Thornicroft]

Many thanks for your time & trouble, Adrian. Much appreciated.

Nick

[GrahamC]

Just found this thread and you might be interested to know that one of my Buxton men:

Sgt. Walter Stanley ROBERTS, RAMC, was also killed or died on 17th March.

The circumstances surrounding his death were confusing, as reported by 'The Buxton Advertiser' (24th May 1919) when announcing his death. On 14th March 1919 he had written to his family assuring them that " .. there was no cause for uneasiness, as he was engaged in the office at headquarters, and was in as safe a position as could be, and far away from any hostilities.".

However, at the end of March the War Office intimated that he was "missing". A letter from one of his colleagues advised his family that he had been taken prisoner and there was every hope that "he would be restored". However, three days later the War Office confirmed his death.

Clearly something happened on that day - anyone got any further with it?

Graham