HMS Princess Margaret, Escape from Riga 1919

[Guest spaner rash]

Greetings to all.

My Great Uncle, John Steel, was a Royal Marine Light Infantryman during the Great War.

I inherited his parchments, medals, and some dog eared photos. Amongst this little lot was a white metal medallion. The inscription reads: In grateful rememberance from the passengers on their deliverance from the Bolsheviks. Riga-London, 3rd Jan 1919-17th Jan 1919.

I have found the details of the Princess Margaret, and that there is one of the same medallions in the National Maritime Museum's collection at http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/o...cture=2#content Spink and Son lost their records for this time during the blitz in WW2, so that's a dead end. The Royal Marines Museum have no knowledge of these either.

So, my questions are: Does anyone else know about these medallions? Is there a way we can find how many were made, and to whom they were issued, and by whom? Surely there was a delay between the escapees landing in UK, and the medallions being struck, then presented to the crew of the Princess Margaret?

All help would be gratefully appreciated.

Spann Rash (mind yer fingers!)

[docpopdotcom]

My wife's step-grandfather was a Chief Petty Officer, AJ Emms, on HMS Princess Margaret during the Riga incident. The ship evacuated a number of Russian aristocrats and others who were fleeing the Bolsheviks. There were several confused incidents, as I understand it, as at the same time the Germans (despite having signed the Armistice) were trying to occupy Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and the British Government intervened to prevent this. There was an exchange of fire with shore batteries and men on the accompanying escort, HMS Dragon, were killed; I believe there is a memorial in Portsmouth. My wife's step-grandfather was awarded the civilian medal you wrte of. Unfortunately, my wife's mother sold all his medal (including a DCM) around 1981 when she left Salisbury Plain to live with us in Leeds. I've since learned that all CPO Emms's medals (including the civilian one) were listed by a London auction house around 1996.

[Jonathan Saunders]

This may or may not be news to you, but in my during my interest in the sister-ship HMS Princess Irene, I have come across several photos of the Princess Margaret. From memory an interesting small book on the Irene called Blown to Eternity, has several good photos of the Margaret.

Regards,

Jonathan s

[docpopdotcom]

Greetings to all.

My Great Uncle, John Steel, was a Royal Marine Light Infantryman during the Great War.

I inherited his parchments, medals, and some dog eared photos. Amongst this little lot was a white metal medallion. The inscription reads: In grateful rememberance from the passengers on their deliverance from the Bolsheviks. Riga-London, 3rd Jan 1919-17th Jan 1919.

I have found the details of the Princess Margaret, and that there is one of the same medallions in the National Maritime Museum's collection at http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/o...cture=2#content Spink and Son lost their records for this time during the blitz in WW2, so that's a dead end. The Royal Marines Museum have no knowledge of these either.

So, my questions are: Does anyone else know about these medallions? Is there a way we can find how many were made, and to whom they were issued, and by whom? Surely there was a delay between the escapees landing in UK, and the medallions being struck, then presented to the crew of the Princess Margaret?

All help would be gratefully appreciated.

Spann Rash (mind yer fingers!)

[docpopdotcom]

I would welcome any photos of HMS Princess Margaret - or links to them if appropriate. I have one photo but it looks as though she is still in her 'civilian' mode as a liner of the Canadian Pacific Railway. I would be particularly interested in any photos of her in her minelaying role, and also when she was in the Baltic in 1919, part of the force that was intervening in the Bolshevik Revolution (when HMS Dragon took a hit from a shore battery and suffered fatalities). Princess Margaret took off a number of (presumably White Russian) refugess who were fleeing from the Bolsheviks, which gave rise to the civilian medal issued to the crew and an example of which resides in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

[spithead]

Spann Rash

Hope this is the one your looking for

Regards John

[docpopdotcom]

Spann Rash

Hope this is the one your looking for

Regards John

Thanks, John. Great photo - far better than any I have. I have put in a request at our local library for Blown to Eternity. I'm gradually learning more about the Baltic/Riga operation that HMS Princess Margaret was involved in and have several books on reserve for this, too. Once again, many thanks.

Barrie

[Jonathan Saunders]

Try this link for a photo of the Margaret in her dazzle colours.

http://www.gwpda.org/naval/pirene.htm

Best regards,

Jonathan S

[docpopdotcom]

Thanks, Jonathan. Happy Christmas !

Barrie

[docpopdotcom]

Greetings to all.

My Great Uncle, John Steel, was a Royal Marine Light Infantryman during the Great War.

I inherited his parchments, medals, and some dog eared photos. Amongst this little lot was a white metal medallion. The inscription reads: In grateful rememberance from the passengers on their deliverance from the Bolsheviks. Riga-London, 3rd Jan 1919-17th Jan 1919.

I have found the details of the Princess Margaret, and that there is one of the same medallions in the National Maritime Museum's collection at http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/explore/o...cture=2#content Spink and Son lost their records for this time during the blitz in WW2, so that's a dead end. The Royal Marines Museum have no knowledge of these either.

So, my questions are: Does anyone else know about these medallions? Is there a way we can find how many were made, and to whom they were issued, and by whom? Surely there was a delay between the escapees landing in UK, and the medallions being struck, then presented to the crew of the Princess Margaret?

All help would be gratefully appreciated.

Spann Rash (mind yer fingers!)

[docpopdotcom]

I have just had from the local library a book by Geoffrey Bennett titled "Freeing the Baltic", first published 1964 by Collins, London, new edition published 2002 by Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh, ISBN 1 84341 001 X. This book gives a full account of the British/French actions in the 'Forgotten War' of the Baltic in 1918-19 and how Royal Navy vessels (including the Princess Margaret) were deployed to help the Baltic states resist Bolshevik takeover of their territories.

[Guest Beau]

My maternal Grandfather, CPO William James Day, DSM, 223407 Served on HMS Princess Margaret from 9/3/1915 to 20/01/1920 as a P.O. His medals were left to his son Lt. Cmmdr. William Day, RN and then passed down to his eldest grandson.My grandfather was at Riga. I had seen his medals whilst on holiday from South Africa (1984). They did include the medallion presented by refugees taken aboard and in addition a Russian medal which I believe was the Medal of St. George.

[sadsac]

Here an award to crew of `Dragon' for services in the Baltic. More such if required.

MARTEN Francis A CMG., CVO Captain RN 88X913 Dragon

Senior Naval Officer Baltic 08.03.20 N/E

Post War - Baltic 1919 Mentioned in Despatches

In connection with the operations connected with the relief of Riga, and the defeat of the Russo - German Forces, Captain F.A. Marten, C.M.G., of the "Dragon", was the Senior Officer of the British Naval Forces which took part in these operations under the direction of Commodore Drisson, the Fr. S.N.O. who as C.S.O. - Liaison Officer Captain B. Curtis, C.B., D.S.O., of "Abdiel". The success of the operation demonstrated the perfect accord and co-operation which existed, who also Commodore Brisson has since emphasised to me in most generous terms. The active operations lasted from the 15th October, until the 11th November, and I consider, that both Captains Martens - Curtis are well worthy of some mark of his Majesty's approval should Their Lordships' see fit to allow my recommendations to carry weight.See also Captain Curtis - 88X913

[John Hendy]

My publication 'Blown to Eternity! The loss of HMS Princess Irene' has been republished to commemorate the centenary of the disaster. It's available from the Ferry Publications website. It includes a number of images of the Princess Margaret (on the stocks, on trials and as a minelayer) as unfortunately the 'Irene's' photographic archive is severely limited. There is nothing of her in the Denny Collection at the National Maritime Museum although the 'Margaret' is wonderfully represented.

I visited the Scottish Maritime Museum's Denny Tank at Dumbarton last summer and was interested to see that the old slipways and fitting out yards are now partially under Dumbarton's football stadium!

John Hendy

[Guest Hugh Godwin]

On ‎24‎/‎01‎/‎2014 at 17:30, Beau said:

My maternal Grandfather, CPO William James Day, DSM, 223407 Served on HMS Princess Margaret from 9/3/1915 to 20/01/1920 as a P.O. His medals were left to his son Lt. Cmmdr. William Day, RN and then passed down to his eldest grandson.My grandfather was at Riga. I had seen his medals whilst on holiday from South Africa (1984). They did include the medallion presented by refugees taken aboard and in addition a Russian medal which I believe was the Medal of St. George.

hi, I am researching the voyage of Princess Margaret with Russian refugees from Riga for a book. Very keen to see any photos from that time, or any diaries or other first-hand testimony of that voyage.

best wishes, Hugh Godwin.

[seaJane]

Are you aware of the book The Russian Court at Sea: The Voyage of HMS Marlborough 1919 by Frances Welch? That may have some useful archive sources listed.

 

sJ

[Ron Clifton]

Out of curiosity, after whom was she named? Our present Queen's sister was born in 1930 so it couldn't have been her, and I can't recall any others, except possibly a Scottish princess.

 

Ron

Edited 30 September , 2016 by Ron Clifton

[seaJane]

Possibly Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

[Ron Clifton]

Thanks Jane. I see that she became Crown Princess of Sweden and died in 1920, so she seems a more likely candidate than Kaiser Wilhelm II's sister, also a granddaughter of Queen Victoria!

 

Ron

[Guest]

Hello I have this picture which might be like by forum members interested in

 H.M.S Princess Margaret. The life buoy has Princess Margaret written around it and I believe the soldiers in dress uniforms are Royal Marines.Maybe they were all envoled in the invacution of Riga.

[1RGLI]

I note that many have full WW1 TRIO's up on thier chests, not usre these were issued that early, in 1919 certainly the 1914-15 Star was but the later WW1 Pair????

 

[Vaticano]

Good afternoon

I am looking for a list of passengers of the ship Princess Margaret, who left the port of Riga Latvia, where 3.01.1919 and through Copenhagen returned to the city of Rosyth.
Especially looking for a passenger with the surname Shibayev Vladimir Anatolyevich.

Would be very grateful for any information.

Yours faithfully

Elena

[Vaticano]

On 29/09/2016 at 22:29, Guest Hugh Godwin said:

hi, I am researching the voyage of Princess Margaret with Russian refugees from Riga for a book. Very keen to see any photos from that time, or any diaries or other first-hand testimony of that voyage.

best wishes, Hugh Godwin.

hi, I am researching the voyage of Princess Margaret with Russian refugees from Riga for a book too. I am from Sankt-Peterburg.

[seaJane]

The Princess Margaret's logbook for the whole of 1901 is in The National Archives (TNA) at Kew https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1520279. Unfortunately it has not been digitised, so in order to see it you would either have to visit TNA, order a copy, or ask someone to look at the log for you. 

 

I do not know whether the name of any of the passengers would be in the log; it's possible that Mr Shibayev is not mentioned.

[Vaticano]

Thank you so much for the info. I live in St. Petersburg. It 's hard enough to find someone who goes to see the archives. But I 'll try to write them a letter.