Jump to content
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

North Russian Relief Force


astuart

Recommended Posts

Is anyone aware if sources or lists exist for the names of the men who volunteered for the NRRF in April 1919? 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Admin

Welcome to the GWF

I’m not aware of a nominal roll compiled by the War Office or other official agency.Many records were lost when the warehouse where they were stored was bombed in 1940.

That said I am aware of regimental researchers and published authors on the GWF who have attempted to compile lists from various sources.

Perhaps if you told us what, or who you are hoping to find in such a list we might be able to help. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for response. From his tales, I believe my grandad was there in 1919/20 training White Russians.

WW1 service No. 85137. A gunner, enlisted Aug 1914 (aged 16), demobbed at Grantham April 1919 just before Churchill's call for NRRF volunteers. There is then a year missing before he re-enlists in June 1920. This year coincides with the NRRF expedition and many of the men were 'Civilian Volunteers'. There was a 55 Battery RFA in the force. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The details I have seen for a NRRF volunteer have him released from Class Z, in order than he can reenlist for 1 year short service. He re-enlisted 28 April 1919. He re-embarked at Archangel on 27 September 1919 and disembarked at Plymouth on 8 October 1919. 

The advertisement for service in North Russia appears on the back of Damien Wright's book on this topic. 

We don't know his name, so other forum members cannot try to find him. I think his movements are likely to be the same as above. I am not aware of anyone other than prisoners remaining any longer in Russia. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Keith. Sorry - I omitted his name, Arthur Walton (no middle name) .served in 'A' Battery 63 Brigade throughout the war. Lance Bombardier by the end.

His stories inspired some writing during lockdowns. Complicated by having no evidence on the potential Russian involvement - so the outcome is a novel based on researched facts and piecing together his threads.

He re-enlisted in 1920, transferred to the MP's in '22 and was mainly in Egypt and Palestine up to 1938.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I see that he reeenlisted, 1021296, on 14 July 1920, and transferred to the Military Mounted Police on 19 Oct 1922. The enlistment book records his former service number, and that he served on the Western Front from 1915 to 1918 until he was demobilised on 23 March 1919. It looks like he was born on or around 28 January 1898.

In theory, given that he served after 1920, his service record should be with The National Archives UK.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Keith. Appreciated and confirms my research.

I have his service papers from the record office - no mention of Russia. Which is why I wonder if the NRRF 'civilian volunteers' responding to the poster were effectively 'unofficial'. 

There is an intriguing official stamp on his papers. "Untraceable in France vide Census Roll.' with a separate date stamp "21 June 1919". Given there was no Census in 1919, and we know his demob on 23rd March was at Grantham, his lack of traceability is puzzling too. And why was anyone interested to note that fact?

I guess this is what makes the history of this time so fascinating. 

Andy 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Army Form 358 Enlistment Book

Images courtesy FindMyPast
Walton358i.JPG.67c237a4cc1f2eb39c93bc79480e8c5e.JPG

 

Walton358ii.JPG.1233e5cf14640a8d85a556c16aca1aea.JPG

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...