The North-Russian Intervention and
the fight against Bolshevism
Towards the end of the war, Britain was withdrawing its troops by different parts of continental Europe. However, this was not the
case for the troops who happened to be in Russian territories. The Great War in that land had evolved into another war – a war
against Bolshevism. The reason why Allied forces, including Britain, decided to keep their troops in Russia has its roots in the
Kornilov Affair and October Revolution. Namely, on 19 July 1917 Larv Kornilov was appointed as a Commander-in-Chief of the SouthWestern Front in the hope that he would be the most suitable person to restore discipline and lead forces. Although he fought
against Bolsheviks, he was a radical himself, leading a country to upheaval, and eventually to a civil war.
Lavr Kornilov
Alexander Kerensky, a prime minister before the October Revolution, was also against Bolshevik power. People from the left saw
Kerensky as someone who ‘had sold himself to the capitalists of England and France’, referring to the co-operation with those
countries. Thus, although Kerensky and Kornilov shared the same views at first in resisting Bolsheviks, in the end, Kerensky thought
it necessary to dismiss Kornilov from his post because of Kornilov’s radicalism. Kerensky explained that he ‘had never doubted
Kornilov’s love for Russia but Kornilov was politically inexperienced’. Kerensky has even written that the ‘prominent individual
liberals were giving by their conduct in the Kornilov days fruitful material to Bolsheviks and semi-Bolshevik demagogues.’ Therefore,
Kornilov did not support communism but he still favoured dictatorship in Russia, which was inspiration for Bolsheviks who later
gained the power.
Kornilov worked with the White Army, which was also supported by Allied forces. The most important centre of resistance against Bolsheviks was Arkhangelsk
(Archangel), a city and an administrative centre in the north of European Russia. It was important for being a stronghold of the anti-Bolshevik White Army supported by
the military intervention of British-led Entente forces along an Allied expedition.
By the beginning of August 1918 Archangel was free from Red domination and the presence of Allies inspired the population with feelings of freedom. Nonetheless, its
personnel were not fully confident because of Kerensky’s recent failure and his exile, which was followed by Bolshevik overthow. Thus, being prepared to protect
themselves remained important.
When Armistice was signed, Allied soldiers who were not dismissed from Russia became confused why they should stay there if the war ended. By autumn of 1918, ‘it
had become a new war, a war against Bolshevik Russia.’ British Government declared: ‘The dispatch of British troops to Russia was for the purpose of withholding
German forces from the western front, and not to overthrow any existing regime or to re-establish order.’ General Ironside stated: ‘Great Britain had no political,
commercial or any other selfish aims in Russia but only the liberation of Russia from Bolshevism and the revival of our Ally. And when I shall have done my work in
the North, we will leave and return to our homes.‘
Similar to Ironside, General Miller has said in response to people’s asking to withdrew British troops from Russia in August 1919: ‘Do not forget Russia’s sacrifices in
the Great War.’
The Baltic Battles
At the end of the Great War in November 1918, Estonians in London asked for help in their fight against Bolsheviks. On 13
November at the conference which took place in the Foreign Office under Balfour’s chairmanship, British policy governing
intervention in Russia declared to supply the Baltic states with military material and ‘if and when they have governments ready to
receive and utilise such material’. A week later Estonian National Government pleaded for help, which the British Government
provided.
By that time, after the weariness, depression and loss which the Great War had already brought to people, British soldiers
themselves felt as if ‘they were being sent to some freezing, God-forsaken place where they would very probably be shot at’,
(Jackson, 1972). Nevertheless, Britain provided help. On 22 November a British fleet, under the command of rear admiral sir Edwin
Alexander Sinclar set sail from Firth of Forth for the Baltic. The expedition was the first combined air and sea assault in history and
was led by HMS Vindictive, the second aircraft carrier in the world 6 Light Cruisers, 9 Destroyers and 7 minesweepers started to sail
for the Baltic under Alexander Sinclair’s lead. They got to Reval (A main port in Estonia’s capital) just in time because the 7th Red
Army was only 40 miles away from Reval. In the following weeks, 5 more warships were sent to the Baltic and by the end of the first
week in January, with the help of Royal Navy, the spine of the Red offensive in Estonia had been broken. Additional airforce and
cruisers were sent in spring, and in 23rd and 24th of May 1919 ‘E’, ‘H’, and ‘L’ class submarines arrived under command of Captain
Martin Dunbar-Nashmith. In June 1919 more ships and also HMS Vindictive – the second aircraft carrier in the world arrived. She
was accompanied by five light cruisers, nine destroyers, 7 minesweepers, a transport vessel and as mentioned, submarines. Among
submarines was probably also E-18, which was the only submarine that Britain lost in the course of the Baltic battles. Soldiers who
lost their lives in the Baltic Battles are commemorated by a memorial plate at Portsmouth Cathedral and also the Holy Spirit’s
Church in Estonia.
A memorial plate in Portsmouth Cathedral,
commemorating British soldiers who gave
their lives fighting against Bolshevism and
helping Estonia to gain independence
between 1918 and 1920.
HMS Vindictive – the second aircraft carrier in the world
In December 1919 Estonia began peace-talk with Russians. By the last day of March 1920, the British cabinet ordered all naval
forces to abstain from further offensive action against the Red army.
In the course of the Baltic Battles, Royal Navy lost a light cruiser, two destroyers, two monitors, a submarine (E-18), four
minesweepers, and three torpedo boats. 14 Royal Navy officers, 92 seamen, 4 Air force officers and 1 airman were killed in action.
Approximately 25,000 British servicemen were involved in this little known campaign, in which the British government were anxious
to secure the sea lanes in the Baltic and the independence of Estonia, in the face of the growing threat from the Russians.
William George Powell
Among the British men who fought for Estonian Independence were William George Powell and Robert Grosby
Halahan. William Powell was born in Soho, London on 18 December 1870. He joined the Royal Navy at as a
Seaman in 1894, signing on for a 12 year engagement. Powell was reverted to Able Seaman on 13 September
1915. On leaving Submarine E9 Powell joined Submarine E18 (Lieutenant Commander Robert Crosby Halahan,
Royal Navy) which was also part of the Baltic Flotilla. Submarine E18 was on patrol in the Baltic on 23 May 1916
when Lieutenant Commander Halahan torpedoed the German Destroyer V100 blowing off the bows of the
German ship. This success was reported by Submarine E18 on the 24th May 1916 which was the last message
received from the Submarine. After a great deal of research by Darren Brown the now accepted date for the loss
of E18 is between 1 and 2 June 1916.
William Powell was 46 years old when he died. He was the husband of May Louisa Powell (nee Moody) of 123,
Toronto Road, Buckland, Portsmouth. They were married at Southampton on 16 December 19?? and had one
son, Victor William Frank Powell. William Powell was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal for his
Naval Service and was also was awarded the Cross of St George, 3rd Class by the Russian Government. He is
commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial Panel No 13.
Robert Grosby Halahan was born in England on 5 Apr 1885 to Samuel Handy Halahan and Hannah Croucher
Engeham. Robert Crosby married Gwladwys Gwatkin Williams. He passed away on 1916 in the Baltic Battles.
Robert Grosby Halahan