In the autumn of 1919 and the winter of 1920, an epilogue of the Finnish Civil War—and possibly the young nation’s strangest foreign policy process—took place, when Finnish volunteers of the Murmansk Legion were repatriated. The Finnish Legion was a unit under the British Navy that, in 1918, sought to repel a German advance toward Soviet Russia along the Murmansk railway or via Arctic ports. About 1,200 Finns enlisted in the Legion on the condition that they would not be required to fight against the Bolsheviks. Central figures in English military at this time were Adm Thomas Kemp and Gen C.C.M. Maynard.

Operationally the Legion was part ot 236. Infantry Brigade commanded by Brig Gen M.N. Turner, and the commander of the Legion itself was Lt Col Richard B.S. Burton. There is little to tell about the actual operations, and those are out of scope of this article.

The agreement between Finland and Britain about demobilization of the Legion was signed 19 July 1919. Finland compiled a blacklist of around one hundred individuals who were not to be allowed back into the country. The list included Legion officers and well-known Reds, selected mostly on the basis of intelligence reports and statements from local White Guard units. In the end, 35 Legionnaires were denied entry to Finland after interrogations on the island of Villinki.

Newly independent Finland had obviously little legal basis to deport citizens anywhere. The process of dealing with the blacklisted legion members was, however, very much in the interest of England. Lord Acton, the English envoy in Finland, took an active role in negotiating with the Finnish government about all aspects of the demobilization and the welfare of the legionnaires returning to Finland. Legion officers like Burton, Col W.R. Warren and Wetton often took personal interest in Individual legion members’ repatriation.

On March 25, 1920, the group of 35 departed for England, with the plan of eventually sending them on to Canada . The Governor General of Canada opposed the immigration of Finns suspected of Bolshevik sympathies, but on November 16, 1920, the Legionnaires, escorted by Lt Thomas C. Wetton, finally disembarked at Quebec City from the ship Minnedosa. They were transported to their first workplace, a logging camp of Sheppard & Morse Lumber Company somewhere North of Cochrane, Ontario . Among them were also Legion officers Oskari Tokoi, Kalle Hämäläinen, and Ilmari Tiesmäki, who had previously fled to England and avoided the interrogations.

The names and hometowns of the deported men were published in several labor newspapers; the most complete list appeared in Suomen Sosialidemokraatti on March 27, 1920. The list classified the individuals into four categories: those who had escaped from prison camps, those who had come to Murmansk during the Civil War, those who had deserted from the White army or evaded conscription, and those who had already been at work in the Murmansk region before the Civil War. The passenger list included a few more names, along with the ages of the individuals. Based on this information, a genealogist can already begin the research to identify who these people were and what happened to them afterwards. Whenever possible, their profiles in geni.com have also been connected to the World Family Tree through all of their grandparents. I welcome readers’ corrections, additional information and hints, as the actual identities of many individuals still remain unknown.

Archival material related to the Murmansk Legion remains largely undigitized and partially restricted. Prosecution documents can be examined at the National Archives of Finland. In England, documents may be found in the Public Records Office and the Foregn Office Library.

Deported

Eronen Paavo (1886-?), Kiihtelysvaara. Escaped from prison camp in 1918, probably while waiting for sentence. Lived in Cobalt and Timmins, Ontario in the 1920s. Nothing further discoveered.

Hakkarainen Matti (n1892-?), Sodankylä. No information at all.

Heikkinen likka (n1896-?). Sodankylä; Worked in Timmins, Ontario in the 20s. No further information.

Huotari Tuomas (1894-1941), Sotkamo. Married Theresa McGran in Canada and lived in Sudbury, Ontario. He died accidentally at Veterans Guard training camp, Niagara in 1941. Canadian military records mention his participation in WW I, Finnish Legion, Russia.

Huttunen, Oskari (1880-1961), Haukipudas. Worked in the Murmansk region already before the Civil War. Wife and three children remained in Finland.

Ikonen Juho (1885-1969), Impilahti. Worked in the Murmansk region already before the Civil War. Wife and five children remained in Finland. Lived in Kirkland Lake, Ontario until his death.

Illberg Leo (1897-1971), Terijoki. Arrived to Murmansk region already during the Civil War. Married Alma Laurila (1899-1960) in Canada. Last residence Whitby, Ontario.

Isberg Georg (1896-1927), Loviisa. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. Served as medic in the Legion. Died in 1927 of tuberculosis in Kirkland Lake.

Juntunen Oskar (1897-1927??), Suomussalmi. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. Lived in Timmins, Ontario in the 20s. One ”Oskar Juntenson” died of tuberculosis in Toronto in 1927. No further information.

Juntunen, Lauri (1896-?), Suomussalmi. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. Puoliso hometown girl Emma Tapio (1894-?) in Canada. Both travellled to Soviet Karelia in 1931, but may have survived the purge there. They used alternative surname Aho.

Keinänen Vilho (1899-?), Ruokolahti. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. Nothing in Canadian sources after the arrival.

Korhonen Hjalmar (1894-?), Nurmes. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. No further information.

Korpivaara Oskari (1896-?), Helsinki. Emigrated with his family to the USA already before the Civil War. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. Spouse Hilja Mattjus/Valanne (1885-?) and son Eero arrived to Canada, and the family moved from Sudbury to United States in 1930.

Kuoppala, Konsta (1885-?), Hartola. Not on the published lists of deportees, but travelled on the boat. Lived in Rose Grove, Ontario in the 1920s, no more information.

Lehtonen Paul (1893-?), Helsinki. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. Nothing in Canadian sources after the arrival.

Leino Toivo A (1879-?), Virrat. Escaped from prison camp, probably while waiting for sentence. No further information.

Leinonen Konsta (1894-?), Kuolajärvi. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. Lived in Timmins, Ontario in the 1920s. No further information.

Leskinen Topias (1887-1968), Kivennapa. Received a sentence of 4 years as a Red Guard member. Escaped to Murmansk region from prison camp in Mikkeli. Married Ida Salminen (1893-1947) in 1924. He left to Soviet Karelia in 1931 together with Lauri Juntunen , bur was able to return to Canada. Married Anna Purola (Martikainen) (1883-1966) as widower. Topias was an active member of communist-led Finnish Organization of Canada in Sudbury.

Lindblad Eero (1896-1966), Juuka. Deserted his army unit in 1918 and left to Murmansk region. He married Tyyne Valkonen (1897-1992) , the family made their life in British Columbia.

Lämsä Oskar (1894-?), Kuusamo. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. Lived in Sudbury, Ontario in the 1920s.

Miettinen Adam (1895-?), Juuka. Deserted his army unit in 1918 and left to Murmansk region. No further information.

Mukkala Emil (1892-?), Kuolajärvi. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. No further information.

Partanen Kalle (1889-1956), Helsinki. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. Buried in Thunder Bay, veterans’ area of Riverside Cemetery with remark Finnish Legion.

Pehkonen Juho, (1888-?) Pielisjärvi. Deserted his army unit in 1918 and left to Murmansk region. No further information.

Pussila Oskar (1890-?), Rantsila. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. No further information.

Rae (Pietikäinen), Emanuel (11891-1948), Savitaipale ; Born in St- Petersburg, lived several years in Canada before the Civil War. Arrived to Murmansk region in June 1918 together with August Wesley. Company commander in the Legion. Served as aide and interpreter during the interrogations in Villinki. Lived later in British Columbia, and became a prolific author, under pen name Magnus Raeus, whose plays were performed all over Canada by the amateur theatre groups at socialist halls.

Räsänen Otto (1890-?), Pielisjärvi. Deserted his army unit in 1918 and left to Murmansk region. No further information.

Sahlström Väinö (1897-1971), Loppi. Worked on an armored train operated by the Red Guard, received sentence of 8 years. Escaped from prison camp to Murmansk region. Later in British Columbia he married Violet Fuller. They had no children together.

Savolainen Uuno (1886-?), Sotkamo. Fought in the Red Guard, received 2 year sentence. Escaped from prison camp to Murmansk region. Resided in Swastika, Ontario in 1949, no further information.

Silmälä Väinö (1888-1947), Tammela. Sentenced for murder committed during the Civil War. Escaped from Riihimäki prison camp to Murmansk region. Married Maria Kahma (1878-?) in 1925. They lived in Sudbury, Ontario.

Sula Hannes, Helsinki (1894-1953). Said to have been born in Tampere, but no records confirm this. He was a candidate for Finnish commander of the Legion, served as company commander. He married Olga Pesonen , and was a member of the leadership of Finnish Organization of Canada and newspaper Vapaus in Sudbury, Ontario. Wikipedia

Tepsa Aksel (1880-1963), Sodankylä. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. Moved from Canada to Michigan, and married Susanna Ilomäki (1887-1977). Erroneously reported as war casualty..

Tervo Konrad (1884-?), Kuolajärvi. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. No further information.

Tshudinoff Nikolai (1899-?), Kotka. Arrived to Murmansk region during the Civil War. No further information.

Tuutijärvi Albin (1892.1938), Kuolajärvi. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. Married Aleksandra Siekkinen (1897-1978) in Canada. Both left to Soviet Karelia in 1931, Albin was executed in Sandarmokh in 1938.

Törmänen Aate Kustu (1887-?), Kuusamo. In Murmansk region already before the Civil War. No further information.

Officers, avoided the inquiry

Hämäläinen, Kalle (1881-1953), Kuopio. Journalist, member of parliament before the Civil War. He was one of the early negotiators about establishing the Legion. Arrived in Canada, at his own cost, together with the deportees. Returned to Finland in 1927. Wikipedia (Finnish)

Tiesmäki, Ilmari (1890-1957), Helsinki. Spouse in Finland Edith Lehtinen (1891-1925). Arrived to Murmansk region in June 1918 together with August Wesley. Company commander in the Legion. Arrived in Canada, at his own cost, together with the deportees. Made his life in Alberta with spouses Aino Rautiainen (1885-1936) and Minnie Smart. Two of his sons who were born in Finland joined the family in 1933.

Tokoi, Oskari (1873-1963), Kannus. Social Democratic Prime Minister of Finland in 1917. Member of the People’s Delegation during the Civil War, received death sentence. Fell out with the Bolshevik Finns in Moscow and got a death sentence from them as well. Tokoi was the primary driver of co-operation with the English in Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. Arrived to Canada with the deportees, but moved on to the USA already in the following year. Wikipedia

Vihuri, Vilho (1894-1967), Helsinki. Arrived in Murmansk region already in Winter 1918, with intention of organizing operations against the Whites in Lapland. Company commander in the Legion. Stayed in England and arrived in Canada in 1923. Married Anna Poutanen (1901-93) in Canada, the family farmed in Sudbury area and operated the Long Lake Beach resort there.

Elo, Emil (1879-1953), Rautalampi. Journalist, parliament member before, and member of the People’s Delegation during the Civil War. Negotiator in forming the Legion together with Tokoi and Hämäläinen. Stayed in England for the rest of his life. Wikipedia (Finnish)

Wesley, August (1887-1942), Tampere. US citizen who fought in the Civil War, and tried to win leadership of the Legion. Joined the Estonian Army in 1919 to avoid the interrogations. Wikipedia