An American in North Russia

[Chris Grimshaw]

Think Howard will appreciate these covers

Scan shows two covers sent by Sergeant Thorley E. Sturr,  'A' Co, 2nd or 3rd Platoon,  339th Battalion AEF in North Russia

Both with letters to a cousin enclosed.  A third cover with letter in April 1919 which he also sent to same addressee 'escaped' me. 

Shown all the details I can find about him, but cannot confirm the two censors signatures.       

The first cover with No Postal Details letter datelined Nov 8th 18, Second 30 December, 1918   

Chris

[Howard Weinert]

Both of these covers were censored by 1st Lt. Arthur F. Collar, Co. A, 339th Inf.

[Chris Grimshaw]

Thanks Howard.  Appreciated.

Found some information on line concerning the 339th Battalion.

The romance of Company "A", 339th infantry, A. N. R. E. F., by Dorothea York,  This is a good read concerning 'A' Co.

Excerpt shown,

"Leaving a detachment at Ust Padenga we moved a mile up
the river to Visorka Gora and there stayed for a week awaiting
the Bolo's next move. Nothing much happened but a little
skirmish on the 28th. (Oct) The mud was still knee deep. November 1st, "C" Company came down and relieved us and the
next day we returned by boat to Shenkursk. The company
did not move again for nearly a week and hence enjoyed the
high privilege of doing its family washing and experimenting
with the Russian bath-for the first time in three weeks.
It was less than six weeks since Company "A" had been
divided at Beresnik to go to the front for the first time. These
six weeks offered a fair sample of what was to come during the
rest of 1918. Until January 19th, 1919, the history of Company "A" is a record of continual movement to the farther
outposts and return for rest, continual slight encounters with
the enemy without a battle, of troops ever on the watch and
worn by continuous duty. For on this front as on no other the
distance to Archangel would not permit of relief from there
with the chance to return and rest. A "rest" on the Vaga
meant retirement to a quiet sector where one might stand guard
and build fortifications. Constant movement, constant danger,
constant duty were the lot of the troops on the Vaga and slips
of boys had already become men and veterans in these brief
weeks. Boys who had been in college the June before, soldiers
for a few weeks, thrown suddenly into war had shown themselves fighters at the outset and the perpetual grind of actual
duty produced shock troops with a reputation to be respected
and feared.
The next day after our arrival here the barrack bags arrived from Archangel; also an issue of tobacco. There was
hot indignation over the petty rifling of the men's effects which we had reason to mention earlier). However, Lt. Collar, formerly of the 338th, had been assigned to our company
at this time and brought with him a quantity of tobacco and
supplies which he turned over to the men. At last smokes were
plentiful. A detachment of Second and Third platoons stayed
on at Shenkursk under command of Lts. McNabb, Collar and
McPhail, until early December, but, on November 7th, 1918,
a detachment of the First and Fourth platoons under Capt.
Odjard (with Lts. Saari and Mead), left Shenkursk to take
over Shagovari which had been reported as unfriendly.
We traveled by water on board a gunboat and barge and
had with us a supporting force of Cossacks under Col. Elristoff.
As Shagovari is north of Shenkursk and hence was directly in
our rear on the thin line from Archangel, it was important
that there should be no opposition here. We reached our destination, took over the town, built fortifications, and patrolled
widely in the vicinity of Kitsa, Ust Vaga, and as far north as
Beresnik without encountering any trouble. We stayed at
Shagovari for just about a month and although outpost duty
is rarely dull there was no special excitement."

In his letter of the 8th November he mentions the experience of the 'local baths'  When he wrote this letter there was no FPO open in this area. FPO PB 55 opened 15 Nov 1918. With the absence of any postal markings I can only assume sent by closed bag direct to one of the American Naval Vessels off Archangel or at Bakhariza?

Also have found the Muster Rolls on line for this Battalion. 

A fascinating period to study.

Chris