New York Times : "Allied ships shell Germans near Riga" 15-17 October 1919

An interesting read with many new details. The full article is available here

“Lacplesa Diena” Bear Slayer Day

General von der Goltz was forced to return to Germany by the British, but the remaining German forces concentrated, regrouped and rearmed around Jelgava. Now, they formally joined the “West Russian Volunteer Army” led by Russian General Pavel Bermont who also called himself Prince Avalov as he claimed he was descended from the Georgian princely family of Avalishvili (Avalov) on his mother's side. In October 1919, they moved on Riga. Now the Latvian National Government was confronted by a two front war. The Latvians call this part of the war the “Bermontiade”.

For a while the new front stabilized on the Daugava River, where it ran right through the center of Riga. Then, on the 11th of November, the Latvian forces supported by gunfire from the American heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh and several Royal Navy and French ships, crossed the Daugava in boats near its estuary hitting the Bermontiade in the left flank. With that their morale, which had never been the best, collapsed, as the German rank and file were by now quite weary of an endless war which they understood the Allied Forces whose ships stood offshore, would never allow them to win. General, Prince Bermont abandoned his men and the Lithuanians destroyed the last of their military capacity at Radvilskis as they tried to retreat through Lithuania. For the Latvians, the victory brought a bounty of heavy weapons, as the Germans abandoned their artillery, armored cars and aircraft. 11 November is celebrated in Latvia as “Lacplesa Diena”, the Latvian Armed Forces Day.

Reference : www.emilija-benjamin.com

Read more

While I knew about the contribution of the British and French Navy  this is the first time I have read about there being the American heavy cruiser USS Pittsburgh in the vicinity.

Angela 

Bermondt-Avalov

"Bermondt, who has been trying to take Riga (middle of October) with
, a force described as Russian but r e a l l y consisting largely of
troops from von der Goltz's corps, is said to be a Cossack Colonel
of some military experience, who organised a volunteer force
against the Bolsheviks at Kieff in 1918. On the withdrawal of
the Germans from the Ukraine he was arrested and sentenced to
death but escaped. His wife is said to have been killed by the
Bolsheviks at Petrograd. His r e a l name is Prince Avalov-
Bermondt, and he  is described, as a wealthy landowner of Finland
("Morning Post", "Stockholm Telegram", October 16th, 1919)" 

I found this quote hidden in some documents that I had downloaded on the National Archives website and I found the photo on google  images. It seems to be used on alot of other websites. I've no idea when  and why it was taken.

I will try to locate a reference for the quote later if anyone needs it. It's amazing how many records are now online compared with the early 1990's when I got hooked on this hobby! 

John Stephen Stroud 1881-1919

John Stephen Stroud,  my  Greatgrandfather,  was one of 9 seamen killed in action at Riga in Latvia  when their gun position took a direct strike from one of several shells fired by German and White  "Bermontian" forces under the leadership of  Pavel Bermondt-Avalov. 

Although I've been really interested in  this events for many years information was really hard to find at first   and I can well understand why the Naval campaign in the Baltic between 1918 and 1920 is often referred to as a "forgotten War" being overshadowed by the scale of events during World War One.

Gradually, information has became more readily available thanks to the internet and several books that have been published.  I can now  better understand the situation in the Baltic and why the signing of the Armistice did not signal the end of war conditions for the many so called "volunteers" who served in the Baltic during 1918-1920 and those like John and the other  15 Royal Naval Officers , 91 Ratings, 4 Royal Air Force Officers and 1 Airman killed in action. 

 I now have lots of small pieces of information from a variety of sources  and it's too much for  hmsdragon1919.co.uk 

I've therefore decided to set up this blog to complement the website. 

I'm hoping to post the little snippets of information that I have obtained in the hope that other families of the crew that were killed in action or families and descendants of crew who served during that period whether on Dragon or any of the other ships might want to get in touch and perhaps contribute their own stories.

Today is Remembrance Day and this is my contribution to ensure that the names of these boys and men are not forgotten.

Hansard transcripts: HMS Dragon struck

 Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY

"I at once bow to your ruling. May we have some details about the lamentable death of nine sailors on board His Majesty's ship "Dragon"? This vessel was fired upon by Bermondt's artillery, and we know that nine gallant men were killed, blown to pieces, and one officer and four men wounded. She was delayed in getting away from danger, and was deliberately fired upon by the Russians who were supposed to be helping. Is it a fact that His Majesty's ship "Dragon" had both anchors down, and the cables were not even on the slips, when fire was suddenly opened on her? ...."

Hansard HC Deb 10 December 1919 vol 122 cc1368-478  

Pavel Bermondt-Avalov: What happened to him after 1920?

From time to time I ponder what happened to Bermondt-Avalov and whether he was ever questioned and held to account for his actions in the Baltic.

Online transcripts of debates in Parliament (Hansard Feb 20th 1920) available here show that there were questions  about his fate.

HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1920s → 1920 → February 1920 → 12 February 1920 → Commons Sitting → ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTION.
COLONEL BERMONDT.
199
HC Deb 12 February 1920 vol 125 cc199-200 1
§
15. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHY asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state the present whereabouts and activities of the Russian Colonel Bermondt; and whether it is intended to demand satisfaction from this officer for the killing of nine seamen on board H.M.S. "Dragon"?
200
§
The ADDITIONAL UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lieut.-Colonel Sir Hamar Greenwood) As regards the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question, according to the latest information, Colonel Bermondt is stated to be in a nursing home in Berlin in a semi-insane condition. As to the second part, no decision has been reached since the reply of the Prime Minister to the hon. and gallant Member on December 18th.
§
Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy Are the Government taking any steps to obtain satisfaction? Is anything being done, or are these nine men to go unavenged?
§
Sir H. GREENWOOD Every step has been taken that can be taken in the interest of the dependents of the men who were, unfortunately, killed when on duty. We do not know what steps have been taken against an ex-colonel in a semi-insane condition in a Berlin hospital.

but then there is so little information online (at least) to explain what happened to him between 1920 and his apparent full recovery, a  move to West Europe, the writing and  publishing of his memoirs and his death  in the 1970's in  New York City (according to Wikipedia and trawl though the internet)

I understand the memoir was written in the 1920's in German. I'd love to know what he says about his time in Riga. It all sounds quite murky to me