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The Brigade Commander and Major Bob Stephen, escorted by a company of Gurkhas, drove 100 miles to Kazvin to make the first official contact between British and Russian troops.
After Hitler’s troops invaded Russia in June 1941, Russia had become an ally of Britain. Russia’s desperate need for fuel and their centuries-long desire for a warm-water port led them to try to take advantage of Persia’s weakness. The meeting at Kazvin went well, despite the innate xenophobia of the Russians and the lack of a common language. Oiled by heroic doses of vodka, the parties agreed to leave future negotiations to diplomats.
Thus ended the successful third visit to Mesopotamia and Persia by the 14th/20th Hussars, but not the last.
