Wireless station at Isakogorka, Archangel Russia

[AlanB]

I am investigating a newspaper article from 1938 that stated a friend's relative Albert Dixon was an intelligence officer with the Russian Expeditionary Force and had charge of a wireless station in Isakogorka just south of Archangel in northern Russia.

Does anyone know anything about such a station or have any information about Albert Dixon

[davidbohl]

2 hours ago, AlanB said:

Does anyone know anything about such a station or have any information about Albert Dixon

It might have been this American one?

On 22 February, the American wireless station in Archangel picked up the news that President Wilson had authorized the withdrawal of American troops from North Russia at the earliest possible time. The White Sea at Archangel remained frozen, so no movement could be made until late spring or early summer.  Until then, the doughboys continued to fight and die in North Russia. https://armyhistory.org/the-american-intervention-in-north-russia-1918-1919/

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/22523/22523-h/22523-h.htm

Here's the article in the Liverpool Daily Post for the rest of the gang

From the BNA

 

Edited 7 November , 2023 by davidbohl

[AlanB]

Thank you for this, the Liverpool Echo article was the one I was referring too.

It’s possible that the Archangel station is the one but the reference to Isakogorka appears quite specific. I wonder if the station at Isakogorka was a subsidiary station of if the article you linked too is simply using the name Archangel as its the main town in the area.

Unfortunately I don’t know Albert's army unit or service number and Albert Dixon is a common name so finding his service record is proving difficult.

Regards 

Alan Bolton 

[davidbohl]

27 minutes ago, AlanB said:

I wonder if the station at Isakogorka was a subsidiary station

The Gutenberg link has a paragraph saying:-

"Captain Donoghue with two platoons of “K” Company, the other two having been dropped temporarily at Issaka Gorka to guard that railroad repair shop and wireless station, now moved right out by order of Colonel Guard, on September seventh, on a trail leading off toward Tiogra and Seletskoe. Somewhere in the wilds he would find traces of or might succor the handful of American sailors and Scots who, under Col. Hazelden, a British officer, had been cornered by the Red Guards."

[AlanB]

Thank you David, that’s reassuring about Isakogorka I’ll have more thorough look through the articles you linked too.

Alan Bolton 

[davidbohl]

1 hour ago, AlanB said:

Unfortunately I don’t know Albert's army unit or service number and Albert Dixon is a common name so finding his service record is proving difficult.

 

Family tree https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/12772186/person/167765169/facts

Here's his dob on the 1939 Register, he lived not far from me

From Anc.

 

[AlanB]

Thank you 

[davidbohl]

There is an Albert Dixon b.Blackburn at Chester Diocesan College on the 1911 census but this doesn't marry up with paper as he went to Russia from 1910-13, and again returned in June 1918 so he must have been in the forces surely?

From the BNA

 

[AlanB]

Thank you this is a really helpful find, hopefully it gives me a better chance of finding his service record.

Alan B

[MaureenE]

AlanB could look at the topic below.  Possibly  the book mentioned Churchill's Secret War wIth Lenin may have something of  relevance.

Maureen

 

[AlanB]

Maureen, thank you for this suggestion I’ll look into it.

regards

Alan B

[wrightdw]

A possible candidate, a Royal Engineers NCO recipient of Meritorious Service Medal:

DIXON, 32220, Sjt. A., M.S.M., R.E. (Lancashire) (NORTH RUSSIA [ARCHANGEL]) (London Gazette, 22^nd January 1920) “…in recognition of valuable services rendered with the British Forces in North Russia.”

Could be RE Signals Service.

MIC confirms first name 'Albert'.

Isakogorka was a village in the rear Lines of Communications quite close to GHQ at Archangel, probably used as a wireless retransmission station. I have found very little about it in many, many years of researching the campaign.

 

 

 

Edited 10 November , 2023 by wrightdw

[davidbohl]

11 hours ago, wrightdw said:

A possible candidate, a Royal Engineers NCO recipient of Meritorious Service Medal:

DIXON, 32220, Sjt. A., M.S.M., R.E. (Lancashire) (NORTH RUSSIA [ARCHANGEL]) (London Gazette, 22^nd January 1920) “…in recognition of valuable services rendered with the British Forces in North Russia.”

Well done for offering up this impressive man, all we have to do is find his service from 1910-13 as quoted in the paper.

[Keith_history_buff]

It would be interesting to find out what trade he had when in Poland and Russia from 1910-13, and why he left it, to become a policeman in the interwar period.

[AlanB]

I think I have Find my past have free access this  weekend. The Albert Dixon is the one born 1889 in Blackburn.

The record is quite badly burned so I haven’t had the chance to fully read through it and confirm it is actually his.

Alan B

[AlanB]

Keith I think that he joined the police in 1913 and he would have been only20/21 in 1910 so probably didn’t have a trade as such.

[Keith_history_buff]

A good point. His attestation, dated 13 October 1914 states that he is a police officer. 

His entry on the 1921 census has his occupation as Police Detective (Special Branch)  and employed by Liverpool Corporation (Watch Committee)

[AlanB]

Hello, Just an update on the information I gleaned from Albert's Service Record.

Its partially damages so not all is readable I can confirm from Next Of Kin that he is the Albert Dixon born 1889 in Blackburn. 

He joined the Royal Engineers on 13th October 1914 and was deployed to France in March 1915. It would appear he was a Motor Cycle dispatch rider with the signal Corps. and there is a reference to what looks like the 8th Cavalry which I understand had a motor cycle section.

There is reference to a No4 GBD but I don't know what that is.

He returned to England and was admitted to Cadet Unit in March 1918. 

He subsequently went to Archangel and there is a reference of him being "Attached" to Intelligence so his claim to have been an intelligence office looks like a slight embellishment.

There is a reference to him being a Casualty but I can't understand the dates and a reference to being evacuated in Sept 1919 on what looks like the "Hildoran Castle" but I have been unable to find any reference to such a named ship.

.

[charlie962]

1 hour ago, AlanB said:

Hildoran

Kildonan Castle

[charlie962]

Yorkshire Post 10/9/19 per Findmypast newspapers

I believe embassy and consulate staff etc were evacuated on same trip.

Edited 25 November , 2023 by charlie962

[AlanB]

Charlie, thank you very much for this, another bit of the puzzle solved.

regards Alan Bolton 

[charlie962]

11 hours ago, AlanB said:

intelligence office looks like a slight embellishment.

I suspect he used Intelligence Officer in the same way as he used Police Officer. Not claiming to be commissioned.