West-Russian army attacks HMS Dragon

West Russian Volunteer army ~ 46,000 German and Russian volunteers, lead by Russian knyaz P.Bermont- Avalov. Despite of purpose to struggle against communists in Russia, they decided to overtrhrow local Latvian government lead by Karlis Ulmanis and make "Baltland" - German protectorate for Germans & Russians in the territories of former Duchies of  Courland and Livonia.

The Western ally ships helped Latvian Army’s fight for independence.

Even Latvia had declared independence in 1918, and its temporal government was recognised by Germany, the battles for the historical territory against German- Russian imperial volunteers army and later- against invading Russian Red Army, continued until the summer of 1920. With the aid, got from Estonia and Western allies, Latvian Army soon gained great success against German-Russian Volunteers Army and Latvia's government was among the last one who declared war against Germany in end of November 1919.

Even historical lands of Baltic people were up to Smolensk (nowadays Russia), Latvian Army stopped its advance against Russian Red Army within former borders of Livonia and Duchy of Courland, established in 13th century

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17 October 1919

Riga

Lat 57.05, Long 23.95

8.10am: HMS Cleopatra sailed.

9.30am: Exercised Collision Stations & Abandon Ship stations.

11.00am: Hands employed fuzing shell.

5.10pm: Observed shells falling near shore abreast ship. Shortened in cable.

5.18pm: Shells falling close to ship, opened fire on shore.

5:25pm: Weighed & proceeded to Eastward. Two shells hit ship causing casualties.

5.45pm: Ceased firing.

6.05pm: Came to with Port anchor in 10 fathoms, veered to 8 shackles.

7.30pm: Hands employed repairing damage.

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In 17.10.1919 a exchange telegram from Copenhagen stated that The British hospital ship Princess Margaret returned to Copenhagen from Riga with four wounded British sailors of the cruiser Dragon.according to "politiken" the Dragon was struck by a German shell at Riga killing 9 and wounding 4.

The Dragon left Chatham only a few weeks since for the Baltic after having escorted HMS Renown conveying the Prince of Wales to Canada.

For the past two weeks  there have been persistent rumours at Chatham of a disaster having occurred to the Dragon in "Russian" waters but no official confirmation could be obtained of the reports.It is understood now, however,that one of the Dragon's 6 in guns was struck and the gun's crew practically wiped out.

Two of her boats stowed on deck were also destroyed. Eleven gunnery ratings left Chatham on saturday to replace the men killed and disabled in the crew and two new boats are also being sent out to the ship from the Dockyard.

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One of the fastest-built ships of the time, Dragon (pennant number D46) was laid down on 24 January 1917 in Glasgow.

She was launched on 29 December that year. However, it was not until 10 August 1918 she was finally commissioned at Harwich by the Royal Navy as HMS Dragon, commanded by Capt. A. H. Allington.

 Armed with six 6-inch guns, the light cruiser was commissioned too late to enter service during the World War I.

She carried HRH The Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) to Canada in August 1919 to begin a Royal Tour.

She then took part in the Russian Civil War as part of a task force aiding independent Latvia and Estonia against the Bolsheviks and German forces in October and November 1919, as part of the British intervention in the Baltic.

On 17 October 1919 Dragon was hit by three shells fired from a shore battery while taking part in operations against Russia-German (West Russian Volunteer Army)  forces attacking Riga, suffering nine killed and five wounded.

From 1920, she was part of the First Light Cruiser Squadron in the Atlantic Fleet.

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On 16 July 1944 HMS Dragon was decommissioned and she was then towed to Mulberry "B", where on 20 July she was scuttled to form part of the artificial breakwater near Courseulles.

On 4 October 1944 she was replaced in Polish service with the ORP Conrad, formerly HMS Dragon's sister ship HMS Danae.

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Other Brittish ships, tooking part in the action in the Gulf of Riga:

• The Light Cruisers HMS Cassandra and HMS Curacoa,
• The Destroyers HMS Vittoria and HMS Verulam, 
• The Minesweepers HMS Myrtle and HMS Gentian
• The Coastal Motorboats CMB 62BD,CMB 67A, CMB 79A and CMB 88BD
• The Submarine L55  

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Altogether between 1918 and 1919  in the Baltic Waters including those aboard HMS Dragon killed in action:

• 15 Royal Navy Officers,
• 92 ratings,
• 4 Royal Air Force Officers 
• 1 Airman 

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The Memorial Plaques in Portsmouth, Riga and Tallinn exist due to the work of the Earl of Carlisle 

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To commemorate the fallen Brits, it has become a tradition in Latvia to held a wreath laying ceremony in October, near Bolderaja (Riga), Latvia

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Ages and families' information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission.