Gurko, Vasily
Vasily Gurko (1864–1937) was a cavalry general and monarchist. Born in Tsarskoye Selo, he came from hereditary nobles of Mogilev province.
He studied at the Richelieu Gymnasium and the Page Corps, graduated from Nikolaev Academy of the General Staff (1892) and was appointed to the General Staff.
He began his service as a cornet (1885) in the Life Guards Grodno Hussars. During the Anglo-Boer War in 1899–1900, he was a military agent (attaché) with the Boer troops who fought with the British army in South Africa, and was promoted to colonel for the successful fulfillment of the mission.
During the First World War, he headed the 1st Army Cavalry Division (from 1911), the 6th Army Corps (1914), the 5th Army of the Northern Front (1915), the Special Army of the Southwestern Front, based on General Cavalry Bezobrazov’s Army, which included elite Guards Troops (1916). The special army participated in the battle of Kovel (August-September 1916). Gurko also participated in the preparation of the significant reform of the Russian army, which was carried out in December 1916.
Honors:
Order of St. George 4th degree (1914);
Order of St. Vladimir 2nd degree with swords (1915);
Order of St. George 3rd degree (1915).
Books:
- Война Англии с Южно-Африканскими Республиками 1899–1901. – СПб., 1901.
- Gourko B. Memories and Impressions of War and Revolution in Russia 1914–1917. – London: John Murray, 1918.
- Россия 1914–1917 гг. Воспоминания о войне и революции. – Берлин, 1922.
- Гурко В. Война и революция в России. Мемуары командующего Западным фронтом. 1914–1917. – М.: Центрполиграф, 2007. – 399 с. – (Свидетели эпохи).
In his memoirs, Gurko tells about the everyday life of the Russian army, the actions of subordinate units, the tactics and strategies of the warring parties, as well as about the political changes taking place in Russia.
