253 Company, Machine Gun Corps

[Chris_Baker]

Can anyone tell me about 253 Company MGC please? I can't find very much about it in the references I have to hand. Details of date of formation, order of battle, service etc would be great. In particular, did the CO leave, around April 1918? Who was he?

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Chris

In Aug. 1918 253rd Coy were in South Russia

2 men from the unit are named on the Archangel Memorial:

36325 Pte. T.P. Connolly d. 11.1.19 buried Soroka Town Cem.

18588 Pte. G. McCleod d. 15.9.18

See this site for an ORBAT:

http://www.orbat.com/site/history/historic...ops1919-39.html

Dave

[Simon Furnell]

Dave.

Many thanks for the link.

It should make interesting reading.

Cheers.

Simon.

[Staffsyeoman]

253 Coy's history is... chequered. Formed in the UK Nov 17; originally 214 Bde of 71 Div; transferred to 67 Div in Feb 18, thence (same month) to '214 Special Bde'. Went to Russia as part of 201 Bn MGC.

201 Bn formed for N Russia service by 'special enlistment' (i.e. volunteers) in April 19; included 40 Guardsmen, Australians & Canadians. Many of the latter had left the AIF/CEF and enlisted in the British Army to go to Russia.

Bn disbanded in Oct 19. If I recall correctly the Bn War Diary has been heavily 'weeded'.