102:
241:
animosity towards
Britain to one side for the duration, and negotiations began in early June. The Soviets wanted finished goods such as mining gear, machine tools, electric plant, medical appliances and drugs, agricultural machinery, locomotives and railway material, and in exchange, were offering mainly raw materials such as cereals, oil, timber, minerals, etc. On 6 July, it was stated in Parliament "that it has been made clear to the Soviet trade delegation that until the release of all British prisoners in Russia takes place, no trade will be permitted between Russia and the United Kingdom."
93:, the high commissioner at Constantinople, despite his misgivings. He had previously advised the Admiralty in January, about a proposed earlier mission, that it should not proceed unless Baku was re-occupied and the safety of the Batum-Baku railway assured. Nevertheless, a party of volunteers (five officers and twenty six ratings) was assembled from ships at Constantinople.
89:. The sudden arrival of fourteen ships (six AMCs and eight transports) on 22 March 1920, had caught both Champain and the Persian authorities unprepared. The Persians responded by interning all the ships and ordering that they be disarmed. Champain had no naval personnel in Norperforce, so he requested Royal Navy assistance. The request was granted by Admiral
214:
managed to keep a razor, despite the many searches, so that they were able to shave, but most had to grow beards. Knives were confiscated and replaced with wooden spoons. Their bread ration, which was as hard as a brick, had to be broken by hand as best they could. After protests, a knife would be allowed for a few days, then it would be taken away again.
256:
delay in exchange for the
Russians in Great Britain, Egypt, and elsewhere, who wish to return to Soviet Russia. It was finally agreed that 300 Russian prisoners from Egypt and Constantinople would be exchanged for all the British prisoners held in Baku. On 31 October, a telegram was received from the President of the Government of Azerbaijan:
117:, the harbour craft base at Constantinople. From its composition of a shipwright, blacksmith, ordnance artificers and engine room artificers, amongst others, it would appear that the party's purpose was the upkeep of the armed merchant cruisers, and possibly their disarmament; the small size of the party precluded any offensive intentions.
210:
in the cell kept one card as a souvenir, signed on the back by all the others. On St. George's Day, red, white and blue rosettes were made from a signalman's flag. They were questioned about it by the prison authorities, who said no more about it when told it was being done in celebration their national day.
248:, Britain had retained about 100 Soviet prisoners, who were taken to Britain to be held as hostages, and were offered, with other prisoners held in Egypt and elsewhere, in exchange for all British prisoners held in Russia. The Soviet delegation accepted the principle of a prisoner exchange, but its leader,
255:
As a result of this pressure, the prisoner's conditions began to improve while negotiations continued. But diplomatic wheels turn slowly, and it wasn't until 13 October that a note was received from the Soviet
Government stating that the evacuation of all British subjects is to be carried out without
209:
In one cell there were the five officers and five men; the officers taught the men bridge, and the men taught the officers solo whist. Cards were forbidden, but they managed to play in the evenings by leaving a man standing by the door so that the peephole was covered. Later, when released, each man
200:
The condemned cell was next to one in which the naval prisoners were held and, at the beginning of June, executions began. Each night, at about 23.00, prisoners from the condemned cell were taken out into the courtyard and shot against the wall underneath the barred window of one of the naval cells.
274:
Before allowing the train to proceed to Tiflis, the
Georgian Government, who were acting as intermediaries, were waiting for confirmation that the 300 Russian exchange prisoners from Egypt and Constantinople had arrived at the Black Sea port of Odessa, Ukraine. Finally, they were allowed to proceed
270:
On 4 November, the naval party was told to prepare to travel to Tiflis. At 16.00 the next day, sixty one
British prisoners boarded the train to Tiflis. They reached Akstafa, a small town five miles from the frontier at 14.00 on the 6th, and waited for a day amidst snow and bad weather, during which
188:
On 10 May
Hewelcke was taken and transferred to the condemned cell, waiting to be shot. Twice during the night cars came to take them away, but each time the execution was postponed. Commander Fraser managed to persuade an interpreter to contact the Dutch Consul, and requested him to look after the
231:
In August they were moved from Bailov prison to a disused school which was in a state of disrepair. They were still given only prison rations of 1 lb. of black bread per day; everything else they had to buy for themselves, which they were able to do as the Royal Navy had sent money to them in
222:
There were several cases of jaundice and many suffered from boils. Most of the party were suffering from stomach troubles, and the remainder from malaria; but nothing could he done for them as no medicines were available, except to make them comfortable. Their sickberth steward acted as doctor for
176:
There were vermin everywhere, and by way of welcome a packet full of lice was pushed through the grating in the doors of the cells. Sanitary arrangements were practically non-existent, as there were only three filthy latrines for some 350 prisoners. The cells were only opened for half an hour each
282:
calling in at Malta where one man was detained in hospital while the others continued on board. The naval party arrived at
Portsmouth on 1 December where they were greeted on the quayside by Commander Fraser who had arrived five days earlier, having travelled on ahead to report to the Admiralty.
196:
In the meantime, the Dutch consul had arranged for a Mr. Seaman (one of the few
British citizens who had not been arrested) to send in meals for the whole party each day. From about 18 May onwards, the prison regulations were gradually relaxed, until they were allowed in the courtyard from 08.30
260:
Herewith I beg to notify you that on 28 October the former
British Consul in Baku and all the British prisoners were released from prison. They will be sent to Tiflis, where-to the people's commissary for Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan Republic has departed, there personally to negotiate the
240:
In the meantime, the efforts of the
British Government to have the prisoners released were directed mainly at the Soviet trade delegation in London. Despite British support for the White Russians against them, the Soviets were desperate to acquire much needed goods and, pragmatically, put their
213:
Clothing was maintained by a system of borrowing and lending. Most of the sailors had kept their 'housewives' (sewing and repair kits); so when part of one person's trousers required mending, another would cut off the bottom of his, which was then used to patch the worn trousers. Some had also
192:
After several days in the condemned cell, on 16 May, Hewelcke was taken ill and removed to the prison hospital which had no medicines, nurses or bedding, except what the patients could provide themselves. The food supplied was exactly similar to that given to the remainder of the prisoners.
172:
Prison in southern Baku, where they were allotted three small cells, each about 10 feet square, each with a small window high up in the wall and little else. A fourth cell was used to accommodate other British civilian prisoners among whom was the British vice-consul, Theodore Hewelcke.
148:
had crossed the northern frontier of Azerbaijan at 01.00 that same morning. Owing to the general disorganisation at the station due to the need of many special trains, their train was stuck there for several hours waiting to proceed to the docks. Later that evening, a
128:
on 21 April, where they awaited further orders. After the arrival of de Robeck next day, and on receiving the report of Commander Luke (the chief commissioner at Tiflis), they were allowed to depart by train on 23 April. Their planned route was by train from Batum to
64:
had built up a flotilla of armed merchant cruisers (AMC) with which, by May 1919, he had wrested control of the Caspian Sea from the Soviet Navy. When Britain withdrew its forces from the area in August 1919, eight AMCs of the Caspian Flotilla were handed over to
101:
177:
evening, when exercise was allowed in a small courtyard, in which there was a tap and trough - the only washing facilities provided. For the first two weeks the food consisted of one pound of black bread per head, with a little rice.
252:, said that the prisoners held in Baku were not their responsibility, but that of the Azerbaijan government (knowing full well the Soviet 11th Army occupied Azerbaijan, and its government would do whatever the Soviets told them).
780:
795:
161:
The naval party was kept in the train under guard at the station for four days, until 1 May when a commissar came and said they were to be moved into the town. They were marched a mile to the
223:
the party, but with little equipment, he was forced to improvise. He used the blade of a safety razor for minor surgical operations, and extracted teeth with a pair of wire nippers.
77:) and General Erdeli (whom Denikin had appointed Russian Governor of Dagestan) was compelled to evacuate his forces by sea. With no other safe port to go to, the flotilla sailed to
785:
110:
682:
652:
637:
727:
712:
697:
667:
583:
790:
523:
470:
61:
278:
From Tiflis they travelled on to Batum, then sailed first to Constantinople then, on 12 November, departed Constantinople in HMS
495:
138:
295:
52:
and the subsequent change of government. The party was imprisoned for six months until released in a prisoner exchange.
770:
144:
After a journey of four days, they arrived at Baku on 27 April at about 16.00, to be greeted with the news that the
245:
301:
145:
180:
On 5 May, the Admiralty received the news that the naval party had been detained by the Bolsheviks at Baku.
775:
86:
275:
and crossed the frontier at 17.00 on 7 November, arriving at Tiflis the next day, all in good health.
73:. But in March 1920, advances by the Soviet Red Army threatened the flotilla's base of Petrovsk (now
755:
754:
Some further material (first-hand accounts) is in the possession of the Liddle Collection at the
519:
491:
466:
291:
66:
90:
70:
37:
21:
764:
249:
375:
Marsh, Joseph Thomas Colville, Engine Room Artificer (4th Class), M.28655 (Ch.).
82:
74:
287:
45:
25:
608:
351:
Collins, Henry Charles Dunk, Acting Shipwright (4th Class), M.6432 (Chatham).
153:
commissar appeared and said they were to consider themselves as prisoners.
124:, across the Black Sea, arriving at the British-occupied Georgian port of
363:
Grundy, Walter Herbert, Engine Room Artificer (3rd Class), M.6702 (Dev.).
150:
49:
391:
Phillips, William George, Ordnance Artificer (3rd Class), M.14781 (Ch.).
388:
Pettit, Frederick Edwin, Ordnance Artificer (3rd Class), M.10410 (Ch.).
286:
Twenty four years later, Admiral Fraser, as commander-in-chief of the
381:
Newland, Henry Herbert, Petty Officer, 193438 (Ch.) (R.F.R., B.8441).
134:
125:
78:
29:
169:
162:
100:
397:
Prout, Frederick Colling, 2nd Sick Berth Steward, M.3176 (Dev.).
130:
41:
33:
424:
Wright, Albert Edward, Officers' Steward (3rd Class), L.12292.
348:
Banks, Joseph William, Blacksmith (4th Class), M.21903 (Dev.).
781:
Battles of the Russian Civil War involving the United Kingdom
409:
Spurway, William Henry James, Leading Seaman, J.19585 (Ch.).
372:
Hutchings, William Alfred, Leading Signalman, J.22516 (Po.).
339:
796:
Battles of the Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War
345:
Aspell, Robert Clyde, Leading Seaman, J.10797 (Devonport).
421:
Waterfield, James William, Gunner, R.M.A., R.M.A./11983.
394:
Piggott, Stanley Freeman, Leading Seaman, J.15784 (Po.).
294:
by the Soviet Union for his part in the sinking of the
189:
safety of Hewelcke and to supply the party with food.
418:
Ware, William Thomas, Leading Seaman, J.16472 (Dev,).
271:
time the remainder of their gear was searched again.
518:. England: Ashgate Publishing Limited. p. 206.
357:
Greenway, John Alexander, Signalman, J.41326 (Dev.).
165:
where they were searched and everything taken away.
81:, on the North Persian coast, where a detachment of
451:- The Royal Navy on the Caspian, 1918-1919, p. 218.
403:
Smith, William Stanley, Able Seaman, J.38025 (Ch.).
406:Snow, Frank Ernest, Private, R.M.L.I., Ply./15808.
378:Murray, Cecil Lionel, Telegraphist, J.59108 (Po.).
366:Hine, Mark, Leading Telegraphist,. J.30143 (Dev.).
360:Grocott, James, Able Seaman, J.37815 (Portsmouth).
20:was a party of thirty-one officers and men of the
415:Wainwright, Wilfred, Able Seaman, J.38861 (Po.).
354:Dart, William Henry, Able Seaman, J.30784 (Ch.).
258:
412:Vidler, Thomas, Leading Seaman, J.18419 (Po.).
8:
120:The party sailed from Constantinople in HMS
40:interned ships. The mission was detained in
369:Horgan, John, Petty Officer, 194216 (Po.).
261:details of the transfer of the prisoners.
48:, following the latter's invasion by the
105:Red Army in Baku, Azerbaijan in May 1920
441:
786:20th-century history of the Royal Navy
400:Roche, Allen, Armourer, 345902 (Dev.).
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113:), the naval party assembled at HMS
109:Led by Commander B.A. Fraser (later
488:British Policy in Persia, 1918-1925
85:was stationed under the command of
744:The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919-1929
625:The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919-1929
554:The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919-1929
540:The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919-1929
516:The Mediterranean Fleet, 1919-1929
463:Churchill and the Archangel Fiasco
330:Commissioned Gunner Richard Norman
14:
168:The next day, they were moved to
111:Admiral Lord Fraser of North Cape
60:From September 1918 to May 1919,
18:1920 Royal Navy Mission to Enzeli
1:
324:Sub-Lieutenant J.G.Henderson,
327:Sub-Lieutenant H.S.Keighley,
812:
321:Lieutenant W.A.A. Bolitho,
292:Order of Suvorov 1st Class
141:, then by ship to Enzeli.
587:, 1 February 1921, page 4
514:Halpern, Paul G. (2011).
246:North Russia intervention
62:Commodore David Norris RN
791:British prisoners of war
461:Kettle, Michael (1992).
302:Battle of the North Cape
227:Move to a disused school
87:General Bateman-Champain
133:, Azerbaijan by way of
318:Commander B.A. Fraser,
263:
197:until 19.00 each day.
106:
585:The Northern Advocate
449:The Naval Review 1920
184:Life in Bailov Prison
104:
756:University of Leeds
609:Commander Fraser -
146:Bolshevik 11th Army
771:1920 in Azerbaijan
611:The Hobart Mercury
556:. p. 210/211.
486:Sahabi, Houshang.
290:, was awarded the
107:
433:
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97:The naval mission
36:, to assist with
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687:12 February 1920
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465:. p. 280.
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308:The naval party
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238:
229:
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205:Living together
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67:General Denikin
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12:
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5:
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746:. p. 280.
735:
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698:Chamberlain -
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627:. p. 255.
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542:. p. 139.
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163:Cheresvichaika
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91:John de Robeck
71:Volunteer Army
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22:United Kingdom
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728:Harmsworth -
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668:Harmsworth -
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38:White Russian
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27:
23:
19:
776:1920 in Iran
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738:
729:
723:
714:
713:Bonar Law -
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683:Churchill -
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34:North Persia
17:
15:
672:6 July 1920
657:1 July 1920
653:Bonar Law,
642:7 June 1920
297:Scharnhorst
83:Norperforce
75:Makhachkala
765:Categories
497:0203988191
437:References
288:Home Fleet
280:Heliotrope
56:Background
46:Azerbaijan
26:Royal Navy
638:Curzon -
244:From its
313:Officers
151:Red Army
122:Gardenia
50:Red Army
28:sent to
730:Hansard
715:Hansard
700:Hansard
685:Hansard
670:Hansard
655:Hansard
640:Hansard
335:Ratings
300:in the
266:Release
250:Krassin
139:Georgia
522:
494:
469:
428:
232:July.
218:Health
170:Bailov
135:Tiflis
115:Julius
79:Enzeli
30:Enzeli
126:Batum
520:ISBN
492:ISBN
467:ISBN
131:Baku
42:Baku
16:The
69:'s
24:'s
767::
593:^
562:^
506:^
490:.
304:.
137:,
44:,
32:,
528:.
500:.
475:.
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