Polar Bear Expedition Americans in Russia. RPPC. Private Collection.
Updates in italic bold.
Top row: McAver, Krueger
Bottom row: Johnson and ‘Tom’.
With their mix of names, I think these four were Americans. Per the conversation below there’s a good chance these four were of the ‘Polar Bear Expedition’, American infantry soldiers of the 339th Regiment fighting the Bolsheviki in 1918.
The wires on the front of the man to the left (Johnson) are probably to hold a backpack in place. They were in a studio but it isn’t hard to imagine the piles of snow outside.
Universal Postal Union of Russia.
Interesting also that the only translation on the back is in French. I’ve tried to date this postcard but with no luck. There just aren’t too many from Russia floating around that I’ve seen. My guess is this was taken anywhere between 1910-1920.
Here are a few pictures of the soldiers from the book “The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki”, by Joel R. Moore and Harry H. Mead and Lewis E. Jahns. Thank you Mrbflaneur for pointing me in that direction!
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- Printing the news
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- A sad but revealing tribute to the fallen soldiers of this expedition.
Bowlers And High Collars 
June 6th, 2015 at 4:34 pm
I can’t see any badges, but the United States 366th “Polar Bear” Infantry Regiment was stationed in Northern Russia between 1918 and 1919, supporting White Russian forces during the Russian Civil War, so that could be something worth looking into.
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June 6th, 2015 at 4:57 pm
pS. I think the book I’m quoting from might have got the regimental number wrong there, but the 339th Infantry Regiment served in Northern Russia with the “Polar Bear Expedition” in 1918 according to Wikipedia! :)
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June 6th, 2015 at 5:00 pm
You got me on a goose chase here! Thanks for sharing your info. Pictures of that unit are hard to find. I was hoping to find out if those coats are army issued.
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June 6th, 2015 at 5:19 pm
The chaps in your photograph are certainly wearing nicer coats than those illustrated here: http://pbma.grobbel.org/stoner/stoner_diary_pt_1.htm
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June 6th, 2015 at 5:26 pm
Good picture! Note they’re all wearing different coats and the picture isn’t as crisp either. Perhaps soldiers were in charge of buying their own coat. This is a picture I should show those Polar Bear memorial people, see what they think. The timeline matches, I think there’s a good possibility these four were stationed there.
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June 6th, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Chapter XIX of “The History of the American Expedition Fighting the Bolsheviki”, by Joel R. Moore and Harry H. Mead and Lewis E. Jahns, the man the left! http://www.gutenberg.org/files/22523/22523-h/22523-h.htm
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June 6th, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Interesting book, going through it…but my Kindle app is not putting out the table of content -ugh. So I don’t know what picture you’re talking about.
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June 6th, 2015 at 6:02 pm
It’s a strange scene; some soldier watching the locals weigh a side of beef! If you type “339th infantry regiment russia” into Google images you might find it easier. 14 rows down! :)
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June 6th, 2015 at 6:07 pm
Oh I saw it! Same coat! And the one in the middle too. Nice catch! He’s looking down at a shoe too.
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June 6th, 2015 at 6:23 pm
Yes, I noticed the shoe. How odd! Is he wearing a fur glove, like your chaps in your photograph, on his left hand?
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June 6th, 2015 at 6:28 pm
Different gloves but I’ve seen the ‘mitts’ on another picture in the book.
This book is actually fascinating to read!
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June 6th, 2015 at 11:41 pm
I updated the post and gave you credit for pointing me in the right direction. Many thanks!
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June 7th, 2015 at 2:57 am
I knew studying the Russian Revolution at college and that book on Russian Civil War uniforms would come in handy one day! ;)
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June 7th, 2015 at 3:00 am
There’s nothing more satisfying than to discover a life behind a picture. Your teacher did good. ;)
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