Source: Post at C.E.F. Study Group
Family Search: Captain Valdemar Bruno Nowitt was born on 7 August 1888, in Odessa, Kherson, Russian Empire as the son of Maria Nowicki. He immigrated to Ellis Island, New York City, New York, United States in 1923 and lived in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States in 1947. He died on 5 July 1947, in Justice, Cook, Illinois, United States, at the age of 58, and was buried in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Justice, Cook, Illinois, United States
Links from the post above outlining career:
To be Temporary Lt., 18 June, 1917
Seconded to War Office, 5 September, 1918
Secondment to War Office terminated, 31 May, 1919
To be a Temporary Captain whilst specially employed, 14 November, 1919
M.B.E. for services in North Russia, 3 February, 1920
Biography
File 4184 pages 401-405 mentions Włodzimierz, son of Bronisław, as having a wife Aniela, daughter of Władysław. In 1915, Aniela asked for confirmation of nobility, probably in order to obtain an allowance.
We assumed that Aniela was a widow and Włodzimierz (Vladimir) was dead or missing. However, we learned that after his wedding to Aniela in November 1908, he left for America (Chicago) in April 1909, leaving Aniela in Russia. We suspect that Vladimir and Aniela had an “adventure” during the summer of 1908 which ended in a forced marriage. Because his brother, Wiktor (Victor) had left for America just a month earlier, it may seemed an “easy out” for Vladimir.
Knowing he was alive, we were able to learn that Vladimir graduated as a 19-year-old the gymnasium in Zlopotol in 1907 and in 1908, he studied art the University of St. Vladimir in Kiev. at the University in Kiev.
In 1914, Vladimir went to Canada to enlist in the Canadian Army (18th Canadian Infantry Battalion), using the last name of Nowitski. He took part in many battles in France. He was invalided from France and was hospitalized from September 1916 to February 1917. Vladimir was then employed at the War Office compiling English-Russian and Russian-English Military Dictionaries (M.I.2.d. and M.I.7.c.). In June 1917, he was granted a commission in the Canadian Forces and was employed by G.H.Q. Canadians London in connection with Russians serving in the Canadian forces.
In January 1918, he was awarded the (Russian) Order of St. Anne, 3rd Class (with swords). In August 1918, he was seconded to the British War Office. He was employed as Allied District Military Control Officer in North Russia (Archangel) from October 1918 to September 1919. Then he was employed as the British Liaison Officer in North Russia. At that time, he was the only British official of any description there. In February 1920, as the Bolsheviks were advancing on Archangel, he escaped, walking (or with skis) 850 miles to Finland. He then arrived in the United Kingdom on March 19, 1920. Upon his return, he was employed by MI5. He also became a British citizen and changed his name to Valdemar Bruno Nowitt.
In 1921, he met and married Marcelle Andree Boissot (1900-1996) and they were married in St. Giles in June, 1921. In 1926 they both went to America, where they resided in Chicago until their deaths – Vladimir (Valdemar/Walter) in 1947 and Marcelle in 1996.
Hello!
I thought this may be interesting to some of you. When I research Archangel, I just don’t find this!
My Great-Uncle (Vladimir Nowitski or Novitzky)) emigrated to the US from Russia in 1909. He joined the Canadian Army (CEF) in 1914. After serving in France, he was sent to London to work for the War Office. He created a Military Russian-English dictionary for them. He also was attached to the Russian Government Committee as — “Attached Russian Military Attache”. He was employed as an interpreter at the end of 1918 with the Archangel Force and was left there, after the final withdrawal, as British Liaison Officer, rank of temp. Captain. I have a Western Union Telegram sent from Archangel, Christmas, 1919. The Bolsheviks marched into Archangel on February 20, 1920. He escaped around March 3 and via skis and foot, got to Finland. He arrived back in England (Hull) from Finland on March 20. As of April 1, 1920, he was employed by MI5 for about a year or so. Probably de-briefed?? (Most of these facts are direct from the National Archives at Kew).
Anyhow, I always read how the last officers and men left in 1919. Not true!
Thank you.
Alida Braden
This man would change his name to Valdemar Bruno Nowitt per The London Gazette. Volume 32236. Page 1524. February 22, 1921.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 