Hugh George Brennan: Glasgow University's first lecturer in Russian

To date little has been known, and less written, about the life of Hugh George Brennan, Glasgow University's first lecturer in Russian. The uncovering of previously unused Russian and British sources throwing fresh light on his life, intellectual development and occupations has made possible a fuller assessment of a significant figure in Glasgow's contribution to Slavonic Studies. Brennan lived and taught in Russia for 20 years. The resulting intense and unusually intimate experience of Russian life probably explains unconventional aspects of his Glasgow appointment. Brennan was an undoubted educational and social success in Russia. Events in the shape of the February Revolution of 1917 forced him to return to Britain. Glasgow's timely offer of a new position was the start of a very different life. This aspect of Brennan's career is reviewed mainly through his commitment to extensive public activities

From Novorossiisk to Alexandria: British involvement in the evacuation of White Russian refugees, 1920

Events during Russia’s Civil War (1918–1920) produced a serious refugee crisis focused on the port of Novorossiisk in south Russia towards the end of 1919 and the opening months of 1920. Lloyd George’s Coalition Government was persuaded to support a rescue mission of selected refugees with most to fear from a Bolshevik victory. The decision was taken against Admiralty advice and against Treasury unwillingness to meet expected high resettlement costs. Thousands of White Russians were rescued and, without wishing or planning the end, the British Government found itself saddled with distracting refugee responsibilities in the politically unstable Protectorate of Egypt