Olga's Regiment and Military Duties

That's very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to post her medal.  

[. My Pictures from the Past .]

That's very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to post her medal.  

oh your welcome... it was no trouble at all

[pdf file]

A pdf file containing a hand tinted photograph of a mounted and uniformed Grand Duchess Olga and her father, Emperor Nikolai II, reveiwing the hussars can be seen at this link: http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/pdf/olga.pdf The photograph was published in 1914.

David

An authographed image of Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana in their regimental uniforms as Colonels-in-Chief. This photograph was probably taken on the same day as a few of the others that appear in this thread of discussion.



David

there it is

This is the regimental badge of the Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna's Own 148th Caspian Infantry Regiment. This regimental badge was authorised for use on 13 December 1911.

David

[pdf file]

A pdf file containing a hand tinted photograph of a mounted and uniformed Grand Duchess Olga and her father, Emperor Nikolai II, reveiwing the hussars can be seen at this link: http://www.oldmagazinearticles.com/pdf/olga.pdf The photograph was published in 1914.

David

there is a fulpicture of that. i'll get it if you like.

At last year's exhibit "At Home with the Last Tsar" I had the opportunity to see Tatiana's regiment uniform in person.  I was amazed to 1) be actually looking at the dress I have seen her photographed in so many times and 2) to find that the uniform has stood the test of time in PERFECT condition.  It looks like it was just created in our own time!  I was wondering if anyone knows if Olga's regimental uniform has survived, and if it is on display anywhere (in Russia) or perhaps stored away in some museum to be brought out later.  It would be an incredible experience to see both uniforms (of the Elisabethgrad Hussar and the Vosnessensky Lancer Regiments) on display together.

Here's some photos of the girls in their uniforms ...

Olga's uniform has indeed survived. I know Lanie once posted a photo of it on Livadia.org or The Romanov Web, but I don't have the link here. When I get home tonight, I will post the photo itself.

Thank you!  It looks as new as Tatiana's.  I'd love to see this one day.  I wonder if it's on display somewhere in Russia?

The picture Sarushka has posted shows the C-in-C's uniform of HIH GD Olga Nicolaevna's 3rd Elizavetgradsky Hussars Regiment, and it is fully described and illustrated (together with Tatiana's and many other ceremonial uniforms) in the catalogue of the State Hermitage Museum, which I am looking at now. Apparently it was acquired from the Alexander Palace in 1941 and is now at The Hermitage (though frequently 'on tour'). Olga became C-in-C of the regiment on July 11th, 1909. She is mentioned in the regimental song :

We Hussars are not of foil,
We are all of damask steel,
How we value Olga's name,
Our white cloaks and our flag of fame!

(Source, State Hermitage Catalogue, 1998, pages 192/193)

thank you. i'm still puzzled i mean like so a group of people fight for the imperial family. and each of the family has a group of soldgers.

IRRC, it all comes from the Middle Ages, when each king/queen needed a corps of loyal soldiers to protect him or her from their enemies. Just for instance, Harold II had his own guard with him at Hastings, 1066, and all of them died aroudn him to protect him in the final debacle, once William broke through his lines.

Oh, by the way, my great grand-father was a member of the Halberdiers of the Royal Guard of Alfonso XIII of Spain.

I read that Olga reviewed her Regiment on Aug 5th 1913. I am currently reading her 1913 diary and so I excitedly turned to this date.
She describes it wonderfully. A funny thing is in the past, when I have seen  photos of her on her horse with her uniform, I would think the horse's name  was one of those  little facts that seem to get lost to history .  So I was delighted to find Olga indeed recorded his name! Fun! She also explains the diffrent group photos one has seen of this event.

At 10:30 the two of us in uniforms went to the training grounds. We rode on horses: I rode on Regent, T[atiana] on Robino. Uncle Nikolasha rode with me to my regiment. Martynov met me with a report. Then I galloped to the trumpet players, greeted each squadron and met Papa on the right flank. Then I followed him around the front again. I was so nervous about the  entrance, but it turned out OK. The parade was nice and beautiful. My great Yelisavetgardsky regiment marched very well. After breakfast talked on the balcony and took group pictures with Papa and my officers in front of the big palace. Then took pictures with the regiment ladies. It's very sad that Mama could not be here. At 3:30 both regiments came to our garden. Mama was sitting in the carriage with Alexi. The singers were singing nice songs as the regiment marched by. Papa and we saw them to the gate and regiment marched past Papa for the last time.The hussars and officers are so sweet, although I don't know them, but still. They presented me with an album picturing the best views of Olga's headquarters. I liked the lieutenant colonel and Sultan Trei most of all. Had dinner with Mama and aunt, had tea with them as well with Papa and Dmitri. There was an  Austrian dinner. Attened vespers. Aunt left at 10 , we saw her off to the station. Heard the regimental march and singing from afar--such sweethearts . They really pleased us. it's very hot today it was 34 in the sun in the morning at Kransnoe Selo.  I'm so incredibly happy with today!!!


Here is film footage of this very review.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-si1gMtPNM&feature=channel#movie_player

You can often pick out Olga because her horse, Regent,  has two white back feet . Both she and Tatiana were remarkable horse women, side saddle no less.  It seems that the girls wore the uniforms at other times, but this was the one time  there was a full scale review. Olga mentions her great uncle Nikolasha riding  with her to her regiment, and in the film you can see him with her and looking out for her. Tatiana reviewed her regiment  that day as well . You can see them ride up behind their father and smile at each other at 3:40 on the right hand side of the screen. Of course the film is from the fabulous  tashusik!

Enjoy!
 

Nice photos of the uniforms.

Would I be right in thinking that those are side-saddle aprons rather than actual long skirts?  (For those who don't know: A side-saddle apron is basically a long wrap-around piece of cloth that is worn over breeches and tall riding boots.  There's a picture of a modern example at: http://www.bespokecountryclothing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/photo07_4_320x480.jpg)

Interesting conjecture, but I think this photo proves otherwise: