Russian vessel with troops onboard - Lerwick Shetland 1916

[The Treasurer]

10 hours ago, JohnH said:

I'm currently carrying out some research into naval operations in Shetland during the Great War with the help of a London based researcher. I'm happy to ask her to look out ADM137/248 on 1st July 1916 next time she visits TNA. 

@JohnH There will about 250-300 signals for that day. These should include all white ensign arrivals and departures from home ports. However, the usual caveat that you could look at all of them and find nothing. So, hopefully a short signal from Lerwick to Admiralty that mentions the names of destroyer(s) arriving. The signals are styled 'arrived X Y' etc and typically won't identify the type of vessel. Unless there is also a signal directly mentioning the transport, perhaps sent by one of the destroyers (possible), it will then also be necessary to call up the relevant logs of the identified destroyers from the ADM53 series. These will give details of any ships met and escorted. Good luck!

[JohnH]

1 hour ago, The Treasurer said:

There will about 250-300 signals for that day. These should include all white ensign arrivals and departures from home ports.

The Shetland News article (above) reports on a party of Shetland RNR ratings leaving Lerwick on 2 July 1916. It mentions a rousing cheer emanating from a "big steamship belonging to one of our great Allies". Looking at the Lerwick harbour log it would appear that this could only be the Russian transport, so it looks like this vessel was in port for at least two days at Lerwick. Should I look at signals for both 1st and 2nd of July 1916. 

[The Treasurer]

10 minutes ago, JohnH said:

The Shetland News article (above) reports on a party of Shetland RNR ratings leaving Lerwick on 2 July 1916. It mentions a rousing cheer emanating from a "big steamship belonging to one of our great Allies". Looking at the Lerwick harbour log it would appear that this could only be the Russian transport, so it looks like this vessel was in port for at least two days at Lerwick. Should I look at signals for both 1st and 2nd of July 1916. 

The specific signals I'm referring to will note arrivals and departure of warships. So a departure of an unescorted merchantman would not be included - a troop transport might. The associated destroyer movement would be the real reason for the signal. You may just happen to pick up a specific signal about troop transport movements though. These signals are hit and miss - sometimes you hit the jackpot, sometimes you spend half an hour paging through them and get nothing. The 2nd is in the same binder though.

Edited 11 December , 2023 by The Treasurer

[JohnH]

@The Treasurer and @KizmeRD I'm getting ready a request to my researcher, and plan to ask her to look at signals on 1, 2 and 3 July 1916 to pick up arrival and departure at Lerwick.  I was wondering if we should also look at Telegrams from the White Sea (TNA ADM 137/666) for the departure of this transport from Archangel in June 1916? 

[The Treasurer]

3 minutes ago, JohnH said:

I was wondering if we should also look at Telegrams from the White Sea (TNA ADM 137/666)

Researching isn't always a precise art I'm afraid, sometimes it is a lottery. You might find something, or you might find nothing in any file of signals, but the White Sea is obviously of relevance. Good luck.

[JohnH]

On 04/12/2023 at 21:29, johnvoe said:

The Lerwick Port records from July 1st 1916 shows the following arrival - "Russian transport with troops and two destroyers along with her".

I have now obtained the Home Fleet telegram IN no. 197 regarding the above. 

"X" refers to Cypher X (as detailed on another Telegram from SNO Lerwick on 2 July 1916 regarding Russian ship movements)

On the 1st of July 1916 at 8.15pm the S.N.O. at Lerwick reported that the Russian transport XENIA and two destroyers arrived.

TNA Reference: ADM 137/248 Description: Home Waters Telegrams, 1-5 July 1916

[KizmeRD]

Excellent find!

Could well be referring (more correctly) to the Russian steamship GRAND DUCHESS XENIA (passenger/cargo ship).

Regards,

MB

[The Treasurer]

1 hour ago, JohnH said:

I have now obtained the Home Fleet telegram IN no. 197 regarding the above. 

"X" refers to Cypher X (as detailed on another Telegram from SNO Lerwick on 2 July 1916 regarding Russian ship movements)

On the 1st of July 1916 at 8.15pm the S.N.O. at Lerwick reported that the Russian transport XENIA and two destroyers arrived.

TNA Reference: ADM 137/248 Description: Home Waters Telegrams, 1-5 July 1916

I'm pleased you found something useful! Annoying that the two destroyers are not named. The ability of these signals to simultaneously reward and disappoint is a familiar experience.. Presumably the later departure from Lerwick is not noted.

 

Here is some info (with pictures) concerning Великая Княгиня Ксения (as identified by @KizmeRD) from a Russian forum:

http://www.polarpost.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7308

Edited 10 January by The Treasurer

[JohnH]

35 minutes ago, KizmeRD said:

Russian steamship GRAND DUCHESS XENIA (passenger/cargo ship).

GRAND DUCHESS XENIA also seen as VELIKAYA KNYAGINYA KSENIYA as per

Grand Duchess Xenia Velikaya Knyaginya Sever Sosnovets 1895 (tynebuiltships.co.uk)

 

 

[JohnH]

On the 2nd of July 1916 at 7.26pm the S.N.O. at Lerwick reported, via Telegram No. 400, that the Russian transport and repair ship KSENIYA and two destroyers sailed for the White Sea at 18.15.

I believe that this is the same Russian transport which arrived at Lerwick on 1 July. The Web Site "Tynebuiltships" records her name as GRAND DUCHESS XENIA also seen as VELIKAYA KNYAGINYA KSENIYA

This telegrams fits in with the Shetland News account on 6 July 1916 (see above post) which reports on the departure from Lerwick of 100 RNR ratings on the 2nd July 1916 at 18.25 on aboard the Armed Boarding Steamer ROYAL SCOT. The drifter ferrying the ratings from Victoria Pier, Lerwick at 17.10 to the ROYAL SCOT passed "a big steamship belonging to one of our great allies". 

Telegram No. 400 on 2 July 1916 per TNA Reference: ADM 137/248 Description: Home Waters Telegrams, 1-5 July 1916

 

[The Treasurer]

17 minutes ago, JohnH said:

On the 2nd of July 1916 at 7.26pm the S.N.O. at Lerwick reported, via Telegram No. 400, that the Russian transport and repair ship KSENIYA and two destroyers sailed for the White Sea at 18.15.

I believe that this is the same Russian transport which arrived at Lerwick on 1 July. The Web Site "Tynebuiltships" records her name as GRAND DUCHESS XENIA also seen as VELIKAYA KNYAGINYA KSENIYA

This telegrams fits in with the Shetland News account on 6 July 1916 (see above post) which reports on the departure from Lerwick of 100 RNR ratings on the 2nd July 1916 at 18.25 on aboard the Armed Boarding Steamer ROYAL SCOT. The drifter ferrying the ratings from Victoria Pier, Lerwick at 17.10 to the ROYAL SCOT passed "a big steamship belonging to one of our great allies". 

Telegram No. 400 on 2 July 1916 per TNA Reference: ADM 137/248 Description: Home Waters Telegrams, 1-5 July 1916

 

The mystery is solved, as this is the same vessel. What you have is simply different ways of transliterating her actual name into latin script. The ship was therefore presumably taking British servicemen out to Russia, not the other way round. It also explains the escort as an outbound transport would normally be given an escort. Signals prior to 1st July might cover this.

Edited 10 January by The Treasurer

[JohnH]

9 minutes ago, The Treasurer said:

Signals prior to 1st July might cover this.

The first Telegram on the 1 July was sent from S.N.O. Lerwick to Admiralty and S.N.O. Liverpool, which could be original port of departure. 

 

[KizmeRD]

Were the men loaded aboard the ship in Liverpool perhaps Russian nationals of military age resident in UK who agreed (or were made) to return to Russia to serve in the Russian army following the introduction of conscription in Britain? (If so then it makes sense for Russia to send a ship in order to transport them ‘home’).
Only I couldn’t find any record to British troops being sent to Archangel in June 1916.

MB