service in North Russia 1918-1920

[observer]

Was service on this front considered part of the Great War 1914-1918?

[wrightdw]

Yes, it certainly was before 11 November 1918.

Thereafter it is not as clear.

The first British troops to land in Russia as part of the 'intervention' were Royal Marines at Murmansk in March 1918, the last to leave were members of the British Military Mission to White Russian General Wrangel which left the Crimea in July 1920.

During the Intervention, British troops fought both German-allied 'White' Finns and Bolshevik Red Army.

Japanese, USA, Canadian, French, Greek, Polish, Serbian, Italian troops all took part.

In my assessment, before 11 November 1918 it was certainly part of the Great War.

One of the objectives was to re-install a pro-Allied government which would resume hostilities on the Eastern Front, closed since the Bolshevik revolution in November 1917, and to ensure ice-free port of Murmansk did not fall in to the hands of German troops in Finland for use as a U-boat base, circumventing the Royal Navy blockade of German ports.

The British extended eligibility for their WW1 medals for service in Russia until July 1920, soldiers who had seen no service before 11 November 1918 were awarded the same medals as those who fought on the Western Front.

It is a very interesting and little known aspect of the First World War. Did you know that on the day the Armistice was signed, 11 November 1918, an Allied force fought one of the largest battles fought by Allied troops during the intervention period in defence of the village of Tulgas? 15 Royal Scots, three US troops and two Canadians were killed. They did not learn about the Armistice on the Western Front until the following day.

 

 

 

 

[HERITAGE PLUS]

The eligibility criteria for the British War Medal were extended to 1920 to include Operations in North ad South Russia

Dave