10th (Cyclist) Battalion, Royal Scots

The 10th Cyclist Battalion, Royal Scots was a British Infantry unit that served in the British Intervention in Northern Russia.

### Service

#### 1918 (Divina)

After failed attempt on August 8th they left Newcastle on August 17th on the SS City of Cairo. They were outside Murmansk on August 23rd and they arrived in Arkhangelsk on August 25th 1918. They marched across the city with some of the American forces and then went back on the City of Cairo while leaving Company D in Arkhangelsk (Later moved to Obozersky). On August 26 they mounted and barges and arrived at Bereznik on the 31st. They were astonished at the size of the river due to them being used to the small rivers of Scotland. At no one point was it less than 1.5 kilometers wide and the river was mostly flanked by marshes and forests. On September 4th the Scots received and white Russians and American marines as reinforcements and some polish scouts were also present. A group of 100 Scots went on a propaganda mission down the Vaga River, but the locals only showed indifference to it. After a polish scouting mission the allies began their offensive. On the right bank of the Northern Divina 500 reds were opposed by 200 Scots, the polish scouts and two field artillery pieces. Meanwhile on the left bank more Scots and a russian gunboat were assigned to clear the triangle between the Divina and Vaga.

The Scots successfully cleared the triangle of red forces and on September 12th after a red attack the previous day on their positions the Scots occupied Priluk. They continued their advance on the 14th and occupied Korbola with assistance of M33. From Korbola they got an artillery piece and a staff officer that provided them useful details about red locations and operations. They occupied Ust-Vaga on September 13th and Maly-Bereznik? on the 14th. Some of those forces than marched across the triangle through untraverseable forested marshes. So much so White Russian forces had to down some trees to make a walkable pathway through the marshes. They arrived at Chamovo later that day and managed to take half the city. The reds attempted unsuccessfully to withdraw a artillery piece, but failed in part due to lewis gunfire. On September 15th the Scots surrounded Chamovo and soon overwhelmed the red forces getting many guddies. In addition too the artillery piece they also got ammunition, 12 horses, a motor car, two field telephones, rifles and valuable documents. Soon after they occupied Navolo and Rostovskoe.

In the Battle of Ploso the Scots outflanked the city and forced a withdrawal. On September 16th the reds launched a naval landing against Chamovo, but it was repulsed with help from M25. On September 18th they occupied Topsa. The Scots and Americans later reached Nijne-Toimski, but failed to take the city. They then established defensive lines. Due to this failure they withdrew back to better positions near Seltso and Borok on September 27th. On September 29th the all troops were placed under the North Dwina River Front lead by Major Whitaker of the Royal Scots. Due to the escalation of the Vaga River Front the Americans were transferred to that front which weakened the Scottish positions.

Due to the withdrawal of HMS M33 on October 4th red gunboats were able shell their positions and did so constantly. The incessant shelling and the Scots having no reply lead to many fires occurring in the camp. To their surprise many of local russians were skilled at putting out fires and assisted the Scots in putting them out. On October 5th the reds attack Scottish positions at Borok. They were repulsed with the help of machine gun fire along with a capture of a Vickers gun. On October 5th the Scots sallied out to find the red positions. They found themselves under heavy red gunfire and had to retreat with one dead. On October seventh with the arrival of a British Artillery Units and Americans from Shenkursk brought the Scots to decide on a attack. They attack and won the day, capturing a pom-pom and 2 machine guns on the left bank of the river. Later the Russian tried to raid their positions, but were repulsed and a counter attack ensued which pushed forward the front lines. These actions only brought one dead, but they had captured 3 Bolsheviks. The reds continued to persevere and on the 9th constant assaults were repulsed. This continued on the 10th.

By this time the Soviet Navy had 30 gunboats in the river and 3 artillery pieces. Fires were almost an hourly problem. The Scots decided to withdraw to new positions. During the retreat on the 13th and 14th the reds attacked Borok and Seltso respectively, but were repulsed. These victories allowed the wounded to be withdrawn.They retreated to the Kurgomin-Tulgas line on the 17th with a quick stop at the Topsa-Troitsa? line. The red were flustered by the withdraw and followed with caution. Meanwhile defensive postions were being set up and the Scots were then reinforced by a Canadian Field Artillery Battery. The reds attacked on the 23rd of October flanking the forces on the right bank. They flanked their left, but the Scots successfully counter attacked capturing 2 machine guns, 5 Bolsheviks and killing 2.

On October 27th the Scots attempted to flank Topsa with 30 poles. The assault was conducted in a blinding blizzard, but the reds were vigilant and they were heavily repulsed by rifle and machine gunfire. This attack lead to 80 casualties and the survivors had to suffer a grueling march. The winter came slow and this allowed the reds a chance to attack. On November 11th the reds attacked with a massive and desperate assault. Scottish positions were almost overrun by 1000 red troops, but contrary to the surprise attack the Scots barely held on. On the 14th of November 1918 Company D arrived. Both sides would soon settle down for the winter.

#### 1918 (Obozersky)

On October 14th Company D was in Obozersky coming from Arkhangelsk. There were reports of an attack on the forward positions and Company D was sent there. The fighting was intense and the Scots had to withstand two assaults with heavy shelling. On October 20th French colonial troops came to take their positions and Company D went to Obozersky then to Arkhangelsk. Only to leave on November 4th to the Northern Divina Front.

#### 1919

As winter set in the Scots bundled up which made to a difficult task to use their weapons. The British were well prepared for the cold and the Scots were supplied with the best conditions possible. Due to the lull in fighting the troops underwent rigorous training. Once again fires occurred and local Russian assisted in their extinguishing. On January 25th news of American defeats on the Vaga spread and on the 26th of January 1919 a red attack began on the right bank. Despite initial successes they were driven back next morning On the night of January 30-1 they abandoned Tulgas and burned the place while repulsing red attacks. In April Whites had taken over the defense of the left bank of the Dvina River. On April 25th they had mutinied and the Entente troops had to quash it. The reds took advantage of this to attack Shussuga and took the village. A counter attack later on recaptured the village. Despite this the Scots held on until British troops took up their positions. They finally sailed home on June 10th 1919 from Murmansk. Arriving in Leith, Scotland on June 18th.

### Sources

http://www.ww1daleboys.com/2-10RS%20History\_EWING.pdf