1021st Russian Labour Corp

[Chris]

Hi all.

Whilst looking through some details of men who survived the war and who lived in Grimsby post war, i came across details of the following two men:

Pte. 556424 Jack Patronooski (110 Victor Street) and Pte. 556223 Sam Patronooski (104 Albert Street), who both list their war service as 1021st Russian Labour Corps. I presume they must be related, but i wonder if any pals know what the 1021st Russian Labour Corps was and where it served, and any suggestions as too how 2 of its former members ended up in the post war era living in Grimsby.

Thanks

Chris

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Army Council Instruction 414 (18 April 1918) states that Labour Battalions

and Labour Companies composed of Russian subjects were to be formed. There

were two Battalions, the 8th Battalion for recruits from London District,

Eastern & Southern Commands and the 9th Battalion for recruits from Western,

Northern and Scottish Commands

Dave

[Ivor Lee]

Chris

Further to Dave's posting.

1021 was one of the Russian Companies of the Labour Corps that served in France. It arrived at Boulogne on 10 June 1918 and was in existence until September 1919.

Initially attached to VI Corps at Saulty it was employed on defence work.

It was then employed on a variety of tasks including repairing the broad guage railways, moving stores and ammunition and canal work.

It remained in VI Corps areas working in various locations until 16 November 1918 when it moved to XVII Corps area ar Rumilly.

However 10 days later was moved to XIII Corps area in the Solemes area where it appears to have remained until it was disbanded.

[Guest Ian Bowbrick]

Chris,

One of the interesting things I have found when doing family research as well as WW1 history of London are the numbers of immigrants that came to this country from the 1860s onwards. Large numbers of Jews, Russians people you now call Poles and Czechs came here to escape religious and political persecution. When I look through Absent Voters Lists of soldiers from 1918 & 1919, the number of men with foreign surnames is truely quite astounding!!

If you take the Southwark area of London, in the 1850/1860s many Irish people settled in the area, probably escaping the potato famine - both my great-great-grandfather and his three brothers all married Irish women!

In short this country has always been quite a mix of people from many nations and religions.

Ian

[Chris]

Thanks to you all for your help, i think these two men have intrigued me, so a trip to Grimsby library to find out more is on the cards.

Once again thanks for your help.

Chris

[MaxD]

For Ivor - do you have any more on the 1021st Coy - diary perhaps. The interest is in one Keva Portman whose medal card is the only record surviving and (from the medals) must have gone to France before Nov 18.

MaxD