Lot 1205

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Description:

BRITISH DIARY FROM NORTH RUSSIA INTERVENTION, 1918-19
A fine grouping of material from British Cpl. R. J. Spencer, DCM of the Yorkshire Regt, who served in the North Russia intervention, part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War after the October Revolution, undertaken on the part of the White movement. The movement was ultimately defeated, while the Allied forces withdrew after fighting a number of defensive actions against the Bolsheviks, such as the Battle of Bolshie Ozerki. The campaign lasted from March 1918, to October 1919. Included is Spencer's diary, 66pp. in a small 8vo notebook, covers and first few pages missing. Mostly in pencil, but legible. Spencer's diary starts with the shipwreck of his transport off the Orkney Islands '1/2 mile from the place where Kitchener went down'. Eventually they are put on another transport and on December 3 arrive in Murmansk. From there Spencer is sent to Soroka, the battalion headquarters and thereafter the diary records expeditions along the railway line from Soroka: 'Jan 10 fired first gun from slay...Feb 8 General Mainard up line...Feb 19 Set off again for another place which is full of Bolsheviks, attacked the town at 7.30am, the battle lasted about 24 hours, dead and dying lying all over the streets...Visited hospital every day for a fortnight with fingers and neck frost bitten...April 12 Ubzeron. Captured outpost in the Forest...May 19 Sgt Muir killed...May 22 Medservengora. Battle Planwick Bridge. Bols 3 times driven back, 4th time captured...' Diary entries occupy about 16 pagers. Other entries in the book give details of equipment, gunnery ranges, Russian phrases and much else. Together with other material relating to Spencer, including a postcard photograph, his citation for an immediate award of the DOM 25 July 1917, his brass engraved tobacco box, '1918 Active Service Testament', and 1914-18 medal with his name engraved about the rim. Although Spencer's diary is mostly laconic and covers only some five months, original material relating to this campaign, in which only a small number of British troops were involved, is now rarely available.

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April 6, 2022 10:00 AM EDT
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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$100 $499 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
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