Russians in England story 1914....

[T, Fazzini]

Years ago I read in a book of strange occurnces this story..that in  1914 that Strange men with accents and snow on their boots [Russians] had landed in England...the explanation was quite simple..Scottish gilies/gamekeepers had come down  from Scotland at the start of War 1914....when asked where they came from they said "Rossshire"  which sounded like Russia....Anyone else heard of this story?

[IPT]

September 1914

 

 

November 1914

 

Edited 22 October , 2020 by IPT

[593jones]

It's an interesting theory, but as far as I know, no-one has come up with an explanation as to how they had snow on their boots in summer!  I don't think Scottish weather is that extreme.

[Moonraker]

See posts, including mine,  within this old thread

 

The account in James Hayward's book makes fascinating reading. The story was taken up by the American press, with the number of Russians estimated at between 50,000 and "little short of a million". A Perthshire landowner had boasted of 125,000 Cossacks crossing his estates. It appears that UK national newspapers treated the story sceptically and satirically.

 

Apart from the "Ross-shire" theory there's another that a London food wholesaler had received a telegram announcing that 200,000 "Russians" were being despatched via Archangel, the reference being to eggs rather than soldiers.

[Heid the Ba]

One difficulty with Ross-shire is that that is Seaforth territory.  Not many kilted Russians.

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

I think it's a huge conspiracy.

Where did all the Deep Fried Novi-Choc bars come from?

[Terry_Reeves]

...and people think that fake news is a modern phenomenon.  Somewhere, I have a period  postcard making fun of it.

 

TR

Edited 23 October , 2020 by Terry_Reeves

[Uncle George]

This analysis of the Great War, from ‘1066 And All That’ (1930) was posted elsewhere on the Forum earlier this week:

 

The War lasted three years or the duration, the Americans being 100% victorious. At the beginning the Russians rendered great assistance to the American cause by lending their memorable steam-roller and by passing silently through England one Sunday morning before breakfast with snow on their boots. The Americans were also assisted by the Australians (AZTECS) and some Canadians, and 51 Highlanders.)

[edwin astill]

Mr Punch had the facts.

 

 

[Black Maria]

Apparently in Germany at the same time there were rumours of cars being driven by Frenchmen , these were said to be laden with gold and heading for Russia to aid

their war effort . 

 

 

[T, Fazzini]

Ah Mr Punch      ..snow on boots.....part ????