Now all roads lead to France and heavy is the tread
Of the living; but the dead returning lightly dance.
Edward Thomas, Roads

Friday, November 7, 2014

Western Front Virtual Tour — Stop 42: Russian Expeditionary Force Chapel and Cemetery


One of the unbelievable stories of World War I is that the Russians, in return for arms and ammunition, sent an expeditionary force of  two brigades (which ended up fighting one another) to the Western Front. On the site of their advance camp at Mourmelon-le-Grand east of Reims, a memorial chapel now sits with a cemetery where there are buried a number of the Russian soldiers who perished on the Western Front.

Annual commemorations are conducted, attended by the Russian émigrés in France . 

4 comments:

  1. I am looking for a good map of the AEF warfront in 1918. I wondered about the one in the background of this picture. Is there a link? Or can you suggest a source?

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    1. Alexander that is from a highly stylized poster and may not be what you require. Tell me a little bit more about what you need and I'll try to help. Send to: great war@earthlink.net

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  2. http://www.tickld.com/x/if-world-war-one-was-a-bar-fight-this-is-perfect
    Not on this subject but thought you would enjoy

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  3. My Grandfather was a conscientious British Army non-combatant in WW1; at one point was working with a French Army Farrier in the region that at least one of the Russian Brigades was posted to. He recounted meeting the Russians and was impressed by them. Although he didn't become a Communist he passionately believed in the rights of the working man throughout the rest of his life.

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