John Cecil HURREN - RASC

[Paul Johnson]

John Cecil HURREN served as 70966. Gunner. Royal Field Artillery.

He Re-Enlisted on 23/6/1919 as MR/47748 RASC and served until 7/11/1920 when he was discharged under Para 392(xxi) of Kings Regs. "Termination of his period of engagement"

I checked the Medal Roll for the RASC and his number is shown as M.RUSSIA/47748.

My questions are;

1. Does this indicate service in Russia, or am I just being a pleb!

2. Why the Termination of service?

Any help gratefully received.

Thanks

PAUL JOHNSON

[michaeldr]

Does this indicate service in Russia, or am I just being a pleb!

Paul,

If you are you asking were the ASC in Russia at this time, then the answer is yes.

Michael Young’s history ‘Army Service Corps – 1902-1918’ covers their activities there in Chapter 14’s less than 6 pages – “The campaign in Russia is poorly documented and only limited material exists on the work of the ASC.”

Basically he says that in June 1918 the British sent a Brigade strength force to Northern Russia; part landed at Murmansk to deny the Germans the Kola Inlet as a U-boat base and part went to Archangel to assist the anti-Bolsheviks. The British withdrew in September 1919. He adds that there was also a Military Mission in the south of Russia, based mainly at Odessa, which assisted anti-Bolshevik forces there in 1918-1919.

Annex ‘R,’ pages 364/5 list the ASC companies and give the WO 95/ ref numbers

Chapter 14, page 187 lists further companies not covered by the above Annex

Hope that this is of some small help

Regards

Michael D.R.

[Paul Johnson]

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the response.

I am doing some research work on behalf of a family who are trying to piece together their fathers military career.

Seems he was a Gunner in the RFA and then re-enlisted into the RASC. His BWM & Victory medal are in the RASC Medal Rolls and when I looked at his service number the roll said M Russia/47748. When I asked the family they told me that he had served in Russia and that he, apparently, had become "involved" with a Russian countess. (This may just be a bit of history "created" by their Dad, but worth looking into.)

The information you have given me is of great assistance and I thank you very much for it.

Regards

PAUL JOHNSON