On Friday, October 16, a memorial event was held at the Naval Patrol Ship Squadron in Daugavgrīva, honouring the British, French, and Irish sailors who fell while supporting Latvia during the War of Independence in 1919.
The event was attended by Karina Ploka, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, French Ambassador to Latvia, Alison Dillane, Deputy Ambassador of Ireland to Latvia, and Kathy Leach , British Ambassador to Latvia.
A wreath-laying ceremony and a prayer service by a Navy chaplain took place at the memorial site.
In the autumn of 1919, British and French warships, with Irish sailors also among the crew, provided vital artillery support for the Latvian army's landing operation in Daugavgrīva. This attack was the beginning of the liberation of Rīga and the rest of Latvia from the Bermont-Avalov West Russian Volunteer Army, now regarded as a decisive moment in securing the state of Latvia.
During the fighting, nine Allied sailors were killed and six were wounded. Their service and sacrifice remain as appreciated as ever, more than a century later.
To explore more of the complex sequence of events that led to the independence of the Baltic states, you might like to look at this informative timeline. A few years ago a very interesting exhibition told the story, too.
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