Two most unusual 1919 Russian Intervention battlefield souvenirs picked up after the Battle of Troitsa, on the Dvina River, in August 1919 by Lieutenant S. C. Askwith, 55th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, who was a member of the North Russian Relief Force. Consisting of an Imperial Russian, infantry other ranks, leather belt with brass buckle, and Imperial Russian Cavalry sword belt.
Imperial Russian belt and buckle complete with white metal receiving loop, 95cm with buckle attached, buckle 53 mm x 81mm, with maker’s mark ’n.A./3.0.’ to receiving hook. The sword belt complete with metal fittings, with Russian maker’s star to leather belt tip, 154cm length. Both with old ink written paper labels with description and history.
Condition. The leather a little dry, Good overall condition.
Stephen Charles Askwith was born on 1 December 1898 and entered the Royal Artillery as a Second Lieutenant on 19 February 1916, being promoted Lieutenant in August 1917. He entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 16 December 1917 and served there with the 30th Battery R.F.A. until 25 May 1918 when he was wounded. Remaining in the service after the war, he embarked with the Russian Relief Force for North Russia in 1919 where he picked up the two items for sale here. Having returned home he gained the Certificate of the Long Survey Course at the School of Artillery at Larkhill. Between April 1925 and February 1929 he served with the Royal West African Frontier Force and was promoted Captain in February 1929. Promoted Major in October 1937, he was appointed Instructor in Gunnery at the School of Artillery between November 1935 and October 1937. Serving in various theatres of war during the Second World War, he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1944. Askwith retired from the Army on 22 July 1949.
In North Russia in June 1919 small naval battles occurred on Lake Onegabetween Allied and Bolshevik ships. The Bolshevik forces were completely taken by surprise when British seaplanes emerged and attacked. The settlement of Kartashi was captured during the month.Despite being told when volunteering that they were only to be used for defensive purposes, plans were made in June to use the men of the North Russian Relief Force in a new offensive aimed at capturing the key city of Kotlasand linking up with Kolchak's White forces in Siberia. The villages of Topsa and Troitsa were captured in anticipation of this action, with 150 Bolsheviks being killed and 450 being captured. However, with Kolchak's forces being pushed back rapidly, the Kotlas offensive was cancelled.
