The Russian Expeditionary Force in France 1916-1918

My interest in the Russian Expeditionary Force (REF) began some years ago when I went on a Battlefield Tour with Flanders Tours led by Lieutenant Colonel Graham Parker OBE (retd.) supported by his wife and daughter. The group visited St Hilaire-le-Grand the location of a Russian church, a Russian military cemetery and some memorials. Annually an event which takes place there is a gathering of Russian exiles who relive their and their ancestors lives in Russia. At the time of my visit I was collecting postcards of the War and inevitably I discovered and bought my first postcard of the REF. The postcards are not prolific and I slowly began my collection with visits to postcard fairs in the UK, France and especially the annual international fair in London. This latter fair attracted dealers from the continent. I still have hopes of finding some of the more elusive cards for my collection.