Servicemen on GRAND DUCHESS XENIA

[Finnairer]

I am researching the service of Karl Post (born 15 Feb 1892 in Vastse-Kuuste parish in Estonia). He served in the Mechant Navy at least from 1917-1919. We have photographs of him posing in the uniform and also photos with the ship GRAND DUCHESS XENIA, where he claimedly served from 1 April 1917 to 18 August 1918. According to https://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/G-Sh...xenia1895.html, the ship was operated by Archangel Mourman Steam Navigation Company. Another photo depicts him with the hat with the letter "HMS" on 15 May 1919, claimed to be taken in Archangel.

I would be very grateful to know more about his service in the Navy and his alleged participation of the Estonian War of Freedom 1919-1920.

I went through the records of Merchant seamen registers 1918-1941 (at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/r...ne-records.htm) and found a Karl Post on an images from the series BT 350. Checked the image, but it seems not him: the city of birth, the date of birth, the photograph do not match and neither is there any markings about GRAND DUCHESS XENIA. Where else could I look any information about his fate during the messy 1919-1920?

Thanks a lot in advance!

[thewideeyedowl]

Hi and welcome....

I cannot -as yet - answer your speciific question, but have found that the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, holds plans for the ship (presumably from when it was built): https://www.rmg.co.uk/search/gss/grand%20duchess%20xenia.

Also, bear in mind that the ship was renamed SEVER in May 1917, and again renamed in 1921 - it became SOSNEVETS.So it woud be advisable to check out those names too.

Owl

[gortonboy]

Hi,,,is this the card you have seen ?

First name(s)
KARL

Last name
Post

Age
-

Birth year
1891

Birth day
24

Birth month
November

Birth place
Parnu

Birth county
Estonia

Place
PARNU

Discharge number
-

Identity certificate number
336862

Card type
CR10

[Finnairer]

Hi!

Many thanks for your replies!

Indeed, the card above is the one I found. But the image there does not match with "my" Karl Post, and either do the birth date and place. I have made a comparison available here:
https://plus.google.com/photos/11264...J2T-9zY3uPEhAE. There are also other pictures of him I wrote about.

The schematics of the ship are a good start, should I happen to be around in Greenwhich, I could see them there. But are there any ideas where to get more information about the shipping company? I assume it was a UK-registered one.

Thanks!

[thewideeyedowl]

There are some very useful Research Guides on the website of the National Maritime Museum (#2). You may have found them (?) but if not, here's the link for C13: https://www.rmg.co.uk/researchers/lib...aritime-museum.

Otherwise, I can't really help - it's all new terrain for me.

Let us know if you find anything.

Owl

[Finnairer]

Thanks a lot!

I contacted the National Maritime Museum and they said that the vessel was a Russian-registered one. Therefore, they don't have any data on it But I will keep digging, still have some Estonian archives to go through (they have excellent online searching system, by the way, see https://ais.ra.ee/).

But I am extremely grateful for any other suggestions and hints from anyone!

Thanks!

[thewideeyedowl]

This is still not answering the question as set - sorry - but I have just found this interesting blog about operations in the Baltic during the times you are researching: https://hmsdragon1919atriga.blogspot.co.uk.

Owl