Dostal sa nám do rúk dokument, ktorý napísal pán Ernie Bies a ktorý sme s autorovým dovolením v plnom znení uverejnili tu: WHAT WERE SLOVAK TROOPS DOING IN COCHRANE ONTARIO IN 1920?
Na tomto mieste ponúkame čitateľom Slova z Britskej Kolumbie niekoľko ukážok z pôvodného dokumentu s odkazmi na stránky, kde sa môžete dočítať viac o česko-slovenských legionároch prechádzajúcich cez Kanadu r.1020.
Czecho-Slovak Legion in Cochrane in 1920 from collection of Gerry Robichaud, used with permission.
A friend sent me a link to a photo that showed a large contingent of soldiers on the Cochrane railway station platform. Someone had hand-written “Slovak Troops Passing Cochrane Ont.” on the face of the card.
Slovak Troops Passing Cochrane Ont.
Viac info na http://slovenskezahranicie.org/SLOVAK-TROOPS-IN-COCHRANE
The Legion’s journey to the east continued as they secured the entire 8,000 mile length of Trans-Siberian railway but at the cost of doing constant battle with the Red Army, who would have long memories. The Legion also had a strong Engineering component as one of the tactics of armoured train warfare was to destroy tracks and bridges to trap the enemy then rebuild them the next day so they could move on. They carried a flatcar loaded with rails and ties with them for that purpose. Living on the trains was a challenge as their homes were simply converted boxcars called tépluškas, meaning warm places. Sleeping on makeshift wooden bunks, stacked two or three high with 30 or 40 men to a car, they covered themselves with their coats and used their packs as pillows. Stoves or a simple steel plate on which wood was burned, were installed to combat the minus 40 degree Siberian winter nights. These were fueled with whatever coal or wood they could commandeer along the way, including wooden fences. Those in the centre were warm, those at the outside felt the chill. The toilet was a hole in the floor covered by a wooden disc on a peg, or the open box car door. They tried to make their lives on the rails more pleasant by decorating their tépluškas with colourful scenes from home and regimental insignia. They had mobile kitchens and bakeries and even produced a daily newspaper. Armaments, equipment and horses were also carried on the trains which were called echelons.
Train photos courtesy of Dr. Jan Kana, Czech Republic
Viac info na: http://slovenskezahranicie.org/node/268
The Czechoslovak government even spent forty million crowns to purchase the Japanese ship, Tajkaj Maru. Due to the instability of the Czech Crown at the time this was probably less than $1 million U.S. They renamed it the Legion, making it the first ship in the navy of this land-locked country. It was later sold to a Greek ship owner and renamed the Lily, before it was torpedoed by a German submarine on March 9, 1942 and sent to a watery grave.
France, who had funded most of the operating costs in Russia, including providing new uniforms for all for the trip home, declared that their responsibilities would end when the Legion left Siberia. Britain and the U.S. then agreed to share the costs to complete the repatriation with the U.S. providing twelve more ships and Britain nine. Seventeen of these carried more than 33,000 passengers to Trieste Italy with some of them making two trips.
Their various routes home are illustrated on this map:
From Návrat Československých Legií Kolem Světa do Vlasti (The Return of the Czechoslovak Legions Around the World to Their Homeland) (Praha, Památník odboje, 1921)
Viac info na: http://slovenskezahranicie.org/node/270
The Blue Funnel Liner Ixion left Vladivostok on May 23, 1920 with 131 officers, 2,774 men and four Russian bears on board. It arrived at the Evans, Coleman and Evans dock in Vancouver at two p.m. on Sunday June 6. The Bears, mascots of the different regiments, were very tame and
playful, one even getting its fifteen minutes of fame with a picture in the Vancouver Sun on June 8, 1920. The men were entertained aboard ship by the bears, supplementing the formal lectures by the officers and impromptu regimental band concerts and programs coordinated by Y.M.C.A. volunteers.
Regimental Band on Board. Photo courtesy of Návrat Československých Legií
Viac info na: http://slovenskezahranicie.org/node/271
The travel across Canada was incident-free except for a handful of men who were left behind along the way when they took too long a sightseeing break and missed their trains. The Red Cross looked after them and they were put on the next train so that no one was lost.
At the rates charged by CNR the cost of moving 9,000 plus troops across Canada was about $500,000. Adding another $200,000 for meals over an average of 30 days in train and in Valcartier, $40,000 for Military medical support and $60,000 for excess baggage and other costs the total in Canada was about $800,000. This does not include the cost of shipping the entire 70,000 or the overland costs in the U.S and Europe.
Czechoslovak Legion in Cochrane in 1920 from collection of Gerry Robichaud, used with permission.
Viac info na: http://slovenskezahranicie.org/node/272
The Legionnaires finally had a few weeks to rest after their constant travel over the past few months. They still maintained their discipline with the mornings dedicated to military drills and camp maintenance and the afternoons free for walks to explore the area or attend civic functions. The grounds around their tents were decorated with intricate designs made with coloured rocks, sand and flowers as they hosted visits from dignitaries, civic officials, the media and the public. They presented band concerts and gymnastic demonstrations that were enjoyed by the citizens and they were able to demonstrate their superb military discipline and marching skills on many occasions.
Regimental Flags at Valcartier. Photo courtesy of: Navrat Československých Legií
Viac info na: http://slovenskezahranicie.org/node/273
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