Soldiers in North Russia in 1918/19

[youngbuzzard]

Good Morning ladies and gentlemen,

I am trying to establish if Edmund Reynolds Willoughby Radcliffe served with the East Surrey Regiment during there deployment in Murmansk/Archangle during the relatively short period British troops were supporting the "White Russians" . Thank you for any advice or information you may be able to provide.

[HTSCF Fareham]

Do you have any other details that may help, such as when and where he was born, where he lived etc?

[HTSCF Fareham]

Okay, I think that I may have your man.

 

Surrey Recruitment Register

First name(s)     Edmund R W Last name           Radcliffe Service number 56504 Age        18 Years 2 Months Birth year            1900 Birth place          Kensington Occupation         Student Attestation year               1918 Attestation date               08 February 1918 Attestation place              Whitehall Unit or regiment              East Surrey Regiment (Guards Depot) Height   5ft 10in. Weight in pounds            131 Eye colour           Brown Complexion        Fair Hair colour          Brown Chest expansion inches 3 Chest size inches              36 Remarks              45 Kensington Square W8

[sotonmate]

1 Battalion landed in Murmansk on 25 Aug 1919 and left via Kandalaksh on 2 Oct 1919.

They were a part of 237 Infantry Brigade of the SYREN FORCE. I see no ref to the soldier's name in Medal Rolls, were there any for this theatre, but there may be a War Diary somewhere with information and maybe a Nominal Roll.

Edit: now found a War Diary for 237 IB:

http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1788086

but not digital

Edited 27 October , 2018 by sotonmate

[Terry_11]

I presume you are aware that your man died in Tunisia on 8 Mar 43 as a Capt in 2 Para.  Regards, Terry

[wrightdw]

1st East Surrey's were attached to Murmansk Command, North Russia Expeditionary Force (GOC Gen. Maynard) to bolster Maynard's forces during his final push down the Murmansk-Petrograd Railway and western bank of Lake Onega before the British evacuation in October.

 

1st East Surrey's fought a series of running battles against the withdrawing Red Army during 13-16 September 1919. They suffered three men KIA and two DOW during this period:

 

 

They received the following awards for North Russia, 1919 (not including MID's or foreign awards):

 

MC Bar:

BROWN, Lieut. John Patrick, M.C. and Bar, 1^st Bn., E. Surr. R. (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 21^st January 1920) “For conspicuous gallantry on 15^th Sept. 1919, near north-west Ilemselga. When the advance was checked he went forward to reconnoitre the enemy position under heavy fire. He returned with valuable information and led his platoon to a position from which he could enfilade the enemy while the main advance was continued.”  (MC, Lon. Gaz. 7^th November 1918)

MC:

CRANHAM, Lieut. George Vernon, M.C., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. R. (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 21^st January 1920) “For conspicuous gallantry near Ilemselga, on 15^th September, 1919. When the advance of his company was temporarily held up he went forward with a Lewis gun under heavy fire to a forward position and engaged the enemy at close quarters. He remained in this advanced position for an hour and a half, and located four enemy machine guns, on which he afterwards was able to direct the fire of the artillery.”

DCM:

NIGHTINGALE, L/8594, C.S.M. G.E., D.C.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. R. (Swanscombe) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 21^st January 1920) “For conspicuous gallantry near Myanselga on 16^th September, 1919. When the advance of his company was temporarily checked, he went forward with some scouts and carried out a successful reconnaissance of the enemy’s position under heavy fire. During the subsequent attack he took charge of an enveloping movement on the enemy’s flank, assisting materially the success of the main attack.”

O’BRIEN, L/12545, Sjt. R.C., D.C.M., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. R. (Dublin) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 21^st January 1920) “For great gallantry during the attack on Myanselga on 15^th September, 1919. He went forward to reconnoitre the enemy’s position under heavy fire, and brought back information which was invaluable in the subsequent advance. On several occasions he volunteered for patrol duty, and throughout set a fine example to the men in his platoon.”  (MM, Lon. Gaz. ???)

STREET, L/14001, Pte. G., D.C.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. R. (Woking) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 21^st January 1920) “For marked gallantry and devotion to duty south of Kapaselga on 13^th September, 1919. He accompanied an officer on a reconnaissance patrol. On encountering some forty of the enemy, the officer was mortally wounded. Pte. Street kept with him and held off the enemy, and later with assistance brought him in.”

 

MM:

BIRD, 13021, Cpl. (T./Sjt.) L., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. R. (Fulham) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

FEE, 13786, Pte. G.S., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (New Cross) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

GREENWOOD, 11806, Pte. (L./Cpl.) J.S., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Anerley) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

HARRIS, 6992, Pte. H., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Teddington) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

HOPKINS, 12922, Pte. H.J., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Camberwell) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

IRVING, 13558, Pte. J.N., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Newcastle) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

LEEDER, 13367, Pte. C., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Scole, Norfolk) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

PECKHAM, 12965, Pte. A.J., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (West Croydon) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

RADFORD, 13099, Cpl. (T./Sjt.) G.A., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Battersea) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

WICKS, 13313, Pte. W., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Norbiton) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

WILBY, 12484, Sjt. H.E., M.M., 1^st  Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Walton-on-Thames) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

WILLIAMS, 14090, Pte. J.E., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (London) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”

WOOLSGROVE, 13966, Pte. T.G., M.M., 1^st Bn., E. Surr. Regt. (Camberwell) (NORTH RUSSIA [MURMANSK]) (London Gazette, 3^rd January 1920) “…for bravery in the Field with the British Forces in North Russia.”