Приключения Королевских Шотландских Стрелков в Новороссийске.
THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS 1919-I959
BY COLONEL J. C. KEMP, M.C. Late THE ROYAL SCOTS FUSILIERS
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2nd Bn: Russia
The 2nd Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers, which played a prominent part in this covering operation, had returned on April 7 1919 to Aldershot from the Army of the Rhine with a strength of 13 officers and 106 rank and file. On December 1, with a strength increased to 21 officers and 752 rank and file under command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. K. Walsh, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., the Battalion left Tilbury to join the Army of the Black Sea assembling at Constantinople. It became part of the 8th Brigade of the 28th Division, and was further reinforced before its transhipment across the Black Sea to the port of Novorossiysk, which was reached on March 11 1920. Heavy seas prevented the transports from putting into harbour until the following day, when the Scots Fusiliers’ ship tied up at the Eastern Quay. The Battalion was made responsible for the defence of this quay and of the Cement Works, to which the British Military Mission to the White Army was being gradually withdrawn. The Red troops had not yet reached Novorossiysk, and as a tribute to Denikin, the commander of the volunteers who formed the White Army, it was possible to organise a ceremonial march through the streets. The Scots Fusiliers took part in this parade, which was watched by Denikin himself. By March 25 the Military Mission, intact, had been embarked in the transport Hanover and other ships. Next morning all British troops were removed from the defences of the Cement Works and embarked, except that two companies of the Scots Fusiliers had to control the approaches to the Eastern Quay, which were crowded with refugees. The Red forces were now approaching Novorossiysk and were harassed throughout the day by the guns of the British and French naval squadrons.
The War Office communiquй dealing with the evacuation of Novorossiysk on March 26 and 27 is a matter-of-fact account of the scene on the quays as the White volunteers with their wounded and crowds of hysterical refugees were being embarked under cover of the naval guns, while the British infantry held the harbour wharves and warehouses. “Before the entry of the Bolshevists”, the communiquй states, “the British military authorities were able to secure the evacuation of large numbers of families of officers, wounded and others who would have been exposed to reprisals by the Red troops. In addition, the British Navy by the most strenuous exertions were able to embark on the various vessels waiting in port large numbers of the volunteers, who had put up a heroic struggle during the past months. Although the British authorities, in pursuance of instructions, used every endeavour to ensure his personal safety, General Denikin would not avail himself of British aid to that end.” A later War Office letter, sent to the Admiralty, declared that the British warships and transports removed at the last moment 8,000 Russian troops and a large quantity of war material, and that the assistance of the Navy made it possible for a further 25,000 troops to be evacuated in Russian ships.
On the afternoon of March 26 one of the two detached Scots Fusilier companies was embarked. Only Battalion Headquarters and “B” Company remained to guard the Eastern Quay. At 5.30 p.m. the transport Hanover sailed. At dusk, as the firing in the town intensified, the last of the Scots Fusiliers withdrew by stages along the Quay and the Mole. Here the British destroyer Stuart was waiting to take off the last detachments, which were later transferred at sea to the Hanover. The Hanover called at Theodosia, and two days later went on to anchor off the Golden Horn on the night of March 30. The Scots Fusiliers had been less than a month away from Constantinople and were now bound for India.
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