British ship sunk by Russians 1904

[Howard Weinert]

Here is a postcard sent during the Russo-Japanese War from a Chinese Eastern Railway train by a Kunst and Albers employee to James Richard Durant [1844-1914], Master of the late S/S Knight Commander in care of His Britannic Majesty's Embassy in St. Petersburg. Postmarked in Postal Wagon No. 264 (Vladivostok-Harbin line, 14.9.04) and in St. Petersburg (4.10). The message, dated 8 September 1904 (21 September new style), reads in part, "Dear Capt. Durant, Capt. Ohlerich left last Friday, two days after you. Hoping you are getting on well with your case." The Knight Commander, a British ship with a cargo of railway material for the Japanese Army in Korea, was boarded off the coast of Japan by the Russian Navy on 23 July. After the crew was removed, the ship was sunk and Durant was taken to Vladivostok. He left on 14 September and reached St. Petersburg on 5 October. He left for London before this postcard arrived in St. Petersburg. His court case was decided in favor of the Russians. Capt. Ohlerich was master of the German cargo ship Thea which was sunk by the Russians on 24 July in the Sea of Japan. Kunst and Albers was the largest chain of general stores in Siberia.

[Chris Grimshaw]

Hi Howard

Brilliant piece. The history behind items like these really brings then to life.

Chris