Canadian participation in events in Russia during 1918-19 has been one of the lesser publicized aspects of our military history. The Russian Revolutions of February and October 1917 had led to the collapse of the Eastern Front, enabling Germany to transfer forces to the Western Front. Allied leaders despatched troops first to Murmansk and Archangel, then to Vladivostock and southern Russia. The reasons for this intervention were complex and numerous: to prevent German seizure of northern Russian ports; to maintain pressure on the Germans in the east; to assist a corps of Czech soldiers to escape from Russia; and to assist White Russian leaders against the Bolsheviks in the developing Russian Civil War. Allied goals differed from one nation to another; after the German capitulation in November 1918 there was no unified policy. Eventually the various foreign contingents were withdrawn, leaving the Russians to settle their internal affairs through force of arms.
Canadian participation in the southern Russian campaign was slight; only forty-one officers and men joined the British force that occupied Baku, on the Caspian Sea, in 1918. Elsewhere, this nation's contribution was more significant. The 16th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, formed part of the expeditionary force sent to Murmansk, and saw fierce fighting south of Archangel. Outnumbered and initially using shorter-range guns than their Bolshevik opponents, the Canadians distinguished themselves in battle; several were awarded British and White Russian decorations. The largest Canadian contingent in Russia, more than 4,000 soldiers, went to Vladivostock late in 1918. They joined some 70,000 Japanese and 7,000 Americans already in that theatre. The only operation assigned to the Canadians was the capture of a village from Bolshevik forces. One infantry company undertook the task and the enemy retreated without firing a shot. Upon their return to Vladivostock the "victorious" Canadians were issued ninety-six bottles of wine, eighteen bottles of whiskey, and three cases of sake.
Louis Keene (1888-1970) was born in England, where he received his early art training before moving to Capetown, South Africa. He came to Canada in 1912. Keene had been a cartoonist for the Cape Argus and did similar work for the MontrΘal Witness and Herald. In 1914 he enlisted in the 1st Automobile Machine Gun Brigade, went to France, and was wounded. Later he was commissioned in the Imperial Army, but returned to Canadian service in 1918 when he was attached to the 20th Machine Gun Company for the Siberian expedition. Following the war, Keene was closely associated with the Lorne Rifles (Scottish), a militia regiment based at Brampton, Ontario. In 1939 he was appointed to the command of that unit, and took it overseas before assuming responsibility for a series of training and repatriation depots in Britain and Canada. Prior to demobilization in November 1945, Keene attained the rank of colonel. Examples of his war art held by the Canadian War Museum depict the Siberian expedition of 1919 and German air attacks on Britain in 1941-42. This tempera painting on board (121 x 182.5 cm) conveys the adverse winter conditions which the Canadian forces confronted.
For additional information about the Canadian role in Russia consult John A. Swettenham, Allied Intervention in Russia, 1918-1919 and the Part Played by Canada (Toronto: Ryerson, 1967) or Roy MacLaren, Canadians in Russia 1918-1919 (Toronto: Macmillan, 1976).
Courtesy: Canadian War Museum, National Museum of Man, National Museums of Canada (8834)
