The Crimean War (1854) at Kamchatka, Russia North Pacific
- John_Barr
- John_Barr
- theRICK
- John_Barr
- lollies100
- John_Barr
- Ranpri
- John_Barr
- sdtexan
- John_Barr
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» John_Barr - Re: Please, help
In response to message posted by Zavr:Dear Zavr,
I think that is a lovely idea. I'm not surprised that you can't find the grave. Poor Admiral Price was given a job he was not competent for and he blew his brains out before the doomed attack even started. He was probably quietly buried in shocked scandalised anonymity. I will certainly ask around all my Crimean War contacts and will get back to you, both here and at your e - mail address.
Good luck to you in your project.
-- posted by John_Barr
» John_Barr - Help on the way
I am delighted that I have been able to find two associates who have a great deal of specialised knowledge in this area - one has actually been to Kamchatka concentrating on the Crimean War. They will be contacting you separately by e-mail.Glad to have been of assistance, and thank you for thinking of Suite 101 and this site. I do hope that you will become a regular visitor here. You obviously have an expert knowledge of the war and we would very much value you input from the Russian point of view,
-- posted by John_Barr
» theRICK - British Dead in Kamchatka
In response to message posted by John_Barr:Some of the British veterans of the failed assault on Petropavlovsk returned a few decades later and erected a memorial plaque near the old harbor. One hundred years later, the memorial was still standing in good condition as the Soviet Navy Pacific Fleet maintained it, their own "Glory" (Slava) Memorial atop the hill overlooking the harbor, as well as two of original gun batteries used to repell the Anglo-French Squadron. Has the Royal Navy and or Royal Marines ever attempted to send someone to Petropavlovsk to lay a memorial wreath for their dead? Would be a nice gesture for August 2004 (150th anniversary). Just curious, Rick in Virginia USA
-- posted by theRICK
» John_Barr - Re: British Dead in Kamchatka
In response to message posted by theRICK:I don't know of any official delegations ever having been sent - officially speaking I think it has always been regarded as a rather murky episode in British Naval history, mainly because of Admiral Price's suicide. It's a nice idea Rick but I can't see it happening, our armed services expense budgets being as tight as they are these days. Most such events now depend on local initiatives - even as local as Agincourt would you believe - one of the most famous British land battle victories of all time, and depending on the local French village mayor to create a battlefield museum, partly funded from his own pocket! Having visited many of your superbly maintained and presented Civil War battle sites, I know you'll find this hard to envisage, but I assure you it's true!!
-- posted by John_Barr
» lollies100 - Re: Re: British Dead in Kamchatka
In the booklet of Cdt Romagny, that I mentioned earlier,the raid on Petropawslock (?) is executed by a joint French-British force commanded by the(rear?)admirals (french:contre-amiraux) FOURICHON and BRUCE. You mentioned an admiral PRICE, was he subordinate to BRUCE? How big was this attacking force and where did it came from?Regards
-- posted by lollies100
» John_Barr - Re: The Kamchatka Affair
In response to message posted by lollies100:Petropavlovsk was a resounding Russian victory. The British and French had created a Pacific Naval Fleet in 1854, based on Honolulu and tasked to contain any Russian naval initiatives from their eastern seaboard. It was composed on the French side of two frigates one corvette and one brig under contre-amiral Febrier-Despointes; the other, under vice-admiral Price with five British frigates. On the Russian side vice-admiral Potiakin commanded the naval division assigned to the area. The fact that there were allies there at all was probably down to fears about Russian attacks on India. Towards the end of August 1854 they became aware that three Russian warships had arrived in Petropavlovsk on the Kamchatka peninsula, and they resolved to go in, destroy them and sack the town. Whether vice-admiral Price had a premonition that all would not go well or whether he had other personal or mental problems is not on record, but he shot himself the night before the attack was due to go in. The landing by marines up steep slopes against well fortified positions was a disaster. The assault stalled and the attackers had to be taken off under fire. The combined allied losses were 209, the Russians 115. No further offensive action was undertaken by the allies for the remainder of the war in the Pacific area.
Herman, I was looking forward to sharing the findings of one of our foremost researchers, Ken Horton,who was due to go out to Petropavlovsk next year, but sadly due to Ken's sudden death these will be denied to us.
-- posted by John_Barr
» Ranpri - Re: Help on the way
In response to message posted by John_Barr:Greetings from Canada!
I adecendentdent of Admiral Price, and would greatly appreciate any additional information or contacts which you would be able to provide. Our family has some knowledge of the Admiral's history, and would be grateful for any help you would be able to provide.
-- posted by Ranpri
» John_Barr - Re: Re: Help on the way
In response to message posted by Ranpri:Your greetings heartily reciprocated! I am afraid that the Admiral does not get a great deal of coverage in the history books, due to the tragic and unfortuate circumstances of his passing - this sort of thing tended to embarrass the Victorians, so hey largely ignored it. I am afraid the sum of my knowledge is pretty well contained in my article 'The War at Sea in 1854', and the information which you already have is probably as much and maybe more than that. Sadly enough the Admiral was part of an indepth study that my friend Ken Horton was engaged on at the the time of his untimely death last year; hopefully in time Ken's notes and papers will be available to us with the additional detail they undoubtedly contain.
-- posted by John_Barr
» sdtexan - David Price, Admiral
I am also a descendant of the line of Admiral David Powell Price. I saw your posting about his burial site. I have lots of information about his and his life and career, and visited his home in Wales. Look forward to hearing from you.Regards,
Bradley Jeffreys
-- posted by sdtexan
» John_Barr - David Price, Admiral
In response to David Price, Admiral posted by sdtexan:Please feel free to write about Admiral Price here on this discussion thread
Bradley, it would make a most welcome addition to my article as well as providing precious information on a much neglected study area of the War.
Kind regards
-- posted by John_Barr
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