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Remembered Today:

The 20th Hussars In Russia, 1918


militaryhistorywriter

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I'm looking for information for a feature article and a book on a detachment from the 20th Hussars that received orders to Russia in March, 1918. During their time there, they had suffered a number of fatalities. Is there any place that one can get more information on their time in Russia?

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert A. Lynn

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Perhaps there might be some information in GWF Forum members Damien Wright's  2017 book

Churchill's Secret War WIth Lenin: British and Commonwealth Military Intervention in the Russian Civil War, 1918-20

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/251047-churchills-secret-war-with-lenin-british-and-commonwealth-military-intervention-in-the-russian-civil-war-1918-20/#comment-2534795

There might be mention in a  book available online, see the GWF topic

Online: British White Russian awards Russia 1918-1920. Also Cemetery details

https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/297387-online-british-white-russian-awards-russia-1918-1920-also-cemetery-details/#comment-3112319

Maureen

Edit: See the listing for Sgt John Taylor Waite MM

https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/thosewhoserved/w-gw.php?pagenum=3

Edited by MaureenE
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Hi Robert,

The nearest casualty I can find from the 20th Hussars to Russia in 1918/9 is Egypt.

The King's Royal Hussars Museum might be a good port of call for research.

Kind regards

Colin

Edited by Colin W Taylor
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CWGC has only Hussar  Capt Dennis Norman Garstin  aged 25 10th Prince of Wales`s Own Royal Hussars 15/8/18 buried Archangel

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3 hours ago, EDWARD1 said:

CWGC has only Hussar  Capt Dennis Norman Garstin  aged 25 10th Prince of Wales`s Own Royal Hussars 15/8/18 buried Archangel

He is also the only Hussar mentioned in Damien Wright's book.

Regards,

Alf McM

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The 20th Hussars in the Great War Major J. C. Darling is available online

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031392767&view=1up&seq=140

and the war diary (F &. F) which I imagine Major Darling drew upon is at TNA

(free if you register) may give an indication of those detached for duty elsewhere

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7351497

 I can't see any reference by Darling, apart from 'how at one place a Bolshevik stole the kits belonging to 'B' Squadron' and other events were,'beyond the scope of this modest volume' p.131. The book was self published he does not elaborate on 'one place'.

 

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No evidence in the war diary for a detached party from 20th going from France to Russia in March 1918. 

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And re the Waite account, no one called Waite killed with 20th Hussars. The only Herbert Waite recorded by CWGC diesd in Mesopotamia with the RWF.

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5 hours ago, johntanner said:

And re the Waite account, no one called Waite killed with 20th Hussars. The only Herbert Waite recorded by CWGC diesd in Mesopotamia with the RWF.

In the Waite account, it was not claimed that Waite himself died at this time, the wording is "During this mission a number of brave men were fatally wounded" I took this to mean men from the 20th Hussars, which from other posts above doesn't seem to be the case. Perhaps the men fatally wounded could be ( loyal) Russians (subjects) in view of further wording in the Waite account

"It would appear that the HMS Malborough took on board the Romanov relatives with loyal subjects..."

However, the dates don't tie in.

The Romanov relatives were rescued in April 1919 by the Royal Navy according to the link https://www.royalmarineshistory.com/post/2019/04/08/rescue-of-the-russian-royal-family-april-1919-royalmarines

Also https://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/marlborough.php and https://shepheardwalwyn.com/100-years-ago-the-evacuation-of-the-russian-royal-family-from-the-crimea/

There seems to be a long gap between the supposed arrival of the 20th Hussars circa July 1918 when the Tsar and his family were murdered and April 1919. It would seem unlikely the 20th Hussars were in Russia all those months, it seems most likely they were not in Russia at all.

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With respect, my point was in relation to the account referring to Herbert Waite being killed while alongside John Taylor Waite.

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On 27/04/2022 at 04:41, johntanner said:

With respect, my point was in relation to the account referring to Herbert Waite being killed while alongside John Taylor Waite.

Sorry, I misunderstood.

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