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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

General Briggs & Military Mission to Kharkoff, (Kharkov) Oct-Dec 1


Guest eleyfa

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Hello everyone

I have only just discovered this site and I am hoping there is some knowledgeable soul out there who can help me.

I am in possession of a diary my Father, George Reginald, (Reg), Eley, wrote when he accompanied General Briggs , and others, (it looks like he went as his batman & I know that he was specifically requested by him), to Kharkoff and back between 14 October & 11 December 1919. I have looked everywhere I can think of on the 'web' to try to find out why they went. They were actually in Kharkoff between 21-24 November.

As my Father was 50 when I was born and died when I was only 15, I was not able to glean anything directly from him. What I do know is that he was in the Derbyshire Yeomanry and was injured whilst serving in Macedonia. He served in Egypt, Salonica, the Dardanelles & Gallipoli.

His trip with General Briggs took him via Paris, (he stayed at the Ritz!), through Europe & the Black Sea before getting to Kharkoff. I am lucky to be about to retrace some of his steps on a cruise.

If anyone can fill in any gaps, especially about What the trip was about, I should be most grateful.

Regards

eleyfa

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Welcome to the Forum.

Several threads, and especially one from a long way back, have touched on this, though admittedly in no great depth. Try entering Kharkov into the search box top right.

Gen Briggs was briefly head of the British Military Mission to Russia, linking with Gen Deniken. News reports at the time say he relinquished his position and was honoured guest at a farewell banquet at Ekaterinodar / Ekaterinoslav on 13 June 1919, and he departed for England a week later, to be replaced by Gen Holman. Interestingly, these dates are at variance with those in your grandfather's diary, so presumably he returned there. In July he presented to a paper outlining Deniken's aims to a Parliamentary committee.

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