About This Unit
North Russian Expeditionary Force / Relief Force (1918-19)
As a consequence of the Russian Revolution, which began in October 1917, the Bolshevik leadership negotiated the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk with the German Government and ceased hostilities, ceding considerable Russian territorial control to the Germans. Most importantly for the Allies, the result freed up 45 German Divisions which became the genesis of the German Spring Offensive, in early 1918 on the Western Front. It was Germany's 'last gasp effort to resolve the conflict on the Western Front on its terms, before American reinforcements arrived en masse.
A particularly savage and malevolent Civil War broke out in Russia, with forces loyal to the Tsarist Regime mobilising, despite the fact that Tsar Nicholas and his family had been murdered by their captors. These forces (known as 'The White Russians) under various leaders, fought the Bolsheviks.
The Western Allies supported the White Russians primarily out of a desire to keep Russia in the war against the Central Powers (Germany and the Austro Hungarian Empire). A multi-national Expeditionary Force was put together, which saw service on a number of fronts. The British initially inserted two groups, Code-named 'Syren' and 'Elope', tasked with securing Murmansk and Archangel respectively.
The rationale was described by Major General Charles Maynard, the Commander of 'Syren', and is paraphrased as follows:
To inhibit the further release of German Divisions from the Eastern Front.
To prevent Germany exploiting the immense resources of Russia and Siberia which would annull the Allied maritime blockade of Germany.
Prevent North Russian ports being used by German U Boats.
Capitalise on the opportunity afforded to employ Japanese and Czechoslovak troops.
The anti-German movement gaining traction in Russia at the time, if unsupported by the Allies, might not achieve any tangible result.
Sir Winston Churchill was a strident advocate of the campaign, but experience on the ground was that the British presence appeared to be resented by many of the people they were sent to protect, and the loyalty of many ostensibly White Russian units to their cause, was questionable. Indeed some Australian personnel were caught up in mutinies with Bolshevik sympathisers and agents encouraging 'White' troops to kill their officers and change sides.
Nine Australians served in the intial Expeditionary Force grouping. It was inserted in mid 1918.
A Relief Force, under the command of General Ironsides, was sent to enable the extraction of the 'Syren', 'Elope' and other personnel, but itself became caught up in fighting.
Many more Australian soldiers, approximately 150 in total, enlisted in the Relief Force. Most were recently demobilised in the UK, after the call for volunteers went out in April 1919. They took part in operations as volunteers with the British Forces. Some individuals served in some of the more obscure theatres of the conflict. Most however, were enlisted into two units as part of the Relief Force sent to extract the earlier Force elements of 'Syren' and 'Elope'; the 45th Royal Fusiliers, and the 201st Company of the Machine Gun Corps.
Many of the Australians were relatively late arrivals to the war in Europe and having travelled all that way wished to see some action. Others were very experienced and in some cases, decorated veterans.- of the Middle East and Western Fronts.
Only two Victoria Crosses were awarded in the campaign, both to Australians; Corporal Arthur Sullivan, VC from Crystal Brook in SA and British-born Sergeant Sam Pearse, VC, MM from Mildura who was killed in the action for which he was awarded the VC. Many others were decorated.
The Australians in the 45th Battalion Royal Fusiliers were engaged mainly on a southern axis south of Archangel, along the Dvina River, culminating in fighting around Ermsta in mid August 1919. 201 Company on the other hand was engaged in fighting on the so-called 'Railway Front'. Armoured trains featured very prominetly on both sides as rail lines were very often the only trafficable routes across a forbidding countryside.
In due course and with the outcome clear, the British Government withdrew its forces in September / October 1919. Extraction of the Force began on 27 September 1919, via Murmansk which was itself evacuated two weeks later.
by Steve Larkins August 2024
References:
1. Wright, Damien, 'Australia's Lost Heroes: Anzacs in the Russian Civil War 1918-1919', Big Sky Publishing 2024, ISBN 978-1-923144-06-4
For the broader context of the Russian Revolution and Civil War, Antony Beevor's recent epic is recommended reading.
2. Beevor, Antony, 'Russia - Revolution and Civil War 1917-1921' Viking Press and Weidenfeld & Nicolson 2022 ISBN: 978-0593493878