36 British soldiers and sailors are buried in the Cemetary, most having died whilst in German Prisoner of War camps during WW1. Remembrance events take place at the Nikolai Cemetary and at St Saviour's Church in Riga, an Anglican Church, the foundations of which were built on British soil brought over in Merchant ships as ballast. I am fortunate to have been present at Jelgava again this year and would like to provide information about the men and the circumstances leading to ther deaths
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British WW1 War Graves, Jelgava, Latvia
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I began researching my family history in the 1990s after my Nan told me that my Great Grandfather her Father had been killed in action in 1919. I discovered that his ship HMS Dragon had been shelled by Bermondt's Russian (German) forces at Riga and that 8 other young seamen had also been killed. Their bodies were buried at sea in the Gulf of Riga.
What started as an interest has developed into a hobby as I have become increasing fascinated by the role of the British Navy in the Latvian War of Independance and especially in the personal stories about people who were present and witnessed these events.
While attended a Remembrance Day Cermony at the Nikolai Cemetary at Jelgava in 2004 I viewed the grave of an unknown seaman who had died on 17th October 1919 (perhaps my Greatgrandfather's?) I also saw the graves of the soldiers around me and wondered about their stories.
I discovered that many were British prisoners of war held by the Germans in camps on or near the Eastern Front around Jelgava (Mitau)Many had died from the effects of being ill-treated, from starvation and exposure, some were shot and their bodies left in the snow to be buried later by their comrades.
As with the British Naval Intervention in the Baltic during 1919 I had no prior knowledge of British POWs being held near the Eastern Front in comparison with the campaign on the Western Front.
I'm not at all academic but I have been looking at records recently, in the National Archives at Kew, Hansard documents, Commonwealth Graves Commission and online information and the result are these blogs.
I hope this is of interest to others. Please feel free to comment or make any suggestions.
What started as an interest has developed into a hobby as I have become increasing fascinated by the role of the British Navy in the Latvian War of Independance and especially in the personal stories about people who were present and witnessed these events.
While attended a Remembrance Day Cermony at the Nikolai Cemetary at Jelgava in 2004 I viewed the grave of an unknown seaman who had died on 17th October 1919 (perhaps my Greatgrandfather's?) I also saw the graves of the soldiers around me and wondered about their stories.
I discovered that many were British prisoners of war held by the Germans in camps on or near the Eastern Front around Jelgava (Mitau)Many had died from the effects of being ill-treated, from starvation and exposure, some were shot and their bodies left in the snow to be buried later by their comrades.
As with the British Naval Intervention in the Baltic during 1919 I had no prior knowledge of British POWs being held near the Eastern Front in comparison with the campaign on the Western Front.
I'm not at all academic but I have been looking at records recently, in the National Archives at Kew, Hansard documents, Commonwealth Graves Commission and online information and the result are these blogs.
I hope this is of interest to others. Please feel free to comment or make any suggestions.
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ill-treatment of British Pows
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Private Joseph Driscoll
(5)
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(3)
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(3)
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(2)
Libau
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Private J Farmer
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(1)
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(1)
Corporal M Purdon
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Private A Skett. Private HS Carruthers
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Private C Brown
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Private CA Irvin
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River Aa
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