100th anniversary of the sinking of Russian Zhemchug commemorated

The 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Russian warship Zhemchug in the Penang Straits will commence today with a visit to the Penang Hospital.

Later, a Russian naval and diplomatic delegation of eight persons, including Penang’s own civil society luminary Datuk Seri Anwar Fazal will visit the hospital.

A brief solemn ceremony would take place at the hospital as a gesture of gratitude to the hospital’s staffers then, who cared for the injured Russian and French sailors.

Anwar will deliver brief remarks about the historical significance of the event – as it is the only battle to take place in Penang during World War I which took place from 1914 to 1918, mostly in the European war theatre.

He has also authored a book on the matter.

The Battle of Penang was a brief but deadly encounter largely overlooked by the local residents but vividly remembered by Russia, who lost 88 sailors 100 – years ago.

The battle was mentioned numerous times by Russian President Vladimir Putin during his 2003 presidential visit to Malaysia.

Members of the Russian diplomatic mission to Malaysia remembered the loss of 88 Russian sailors aboard the cruiser Zhemchug (Pearl) during the battle.

Shortly after the outbreak of the war in 1914, allied ships from Britain, France and Russia were around Penang.

One of these was the Russian cruiser Zhemchug, in Penang for repairs to her boilers.

German SMS Emden in disguise for the kill

Zhemchug was moored in the harbour while her Captain, Commodore Baron Cherkassov, went ashore for the night.

Early the next morning, the German cruiser SMS Emden, which managed to disguise itself as a British vessel unleashed a barrage at the Russian vessel.

Emden had disguised herself as the Yarmouth with a false smoke stack.

Emden unloaded a torpedo at Zhemchug, followed by a salvo of cannon shells which crippled the ship.

Cherkassov was then staying at the E & O Hotel.

The French destroyer Mousquet, returning to the harbour from a patrol, set off in pursuit of Emden, but was quickly sunk by the German ship.

The Emden itself was destroyed 10 days later in a battle with the Australian navy off the coast of Indonesia’s Cocos Islands.

A brief remembrance ceremony was held at the Western Road Christian cemetery yesterday where the remains lay while some 20 members of the Russian expatriate community attended the ceremony.

The wreath laying was followed by a brief Orthodox church memorial service.

Social activist and local historian Khoo Salma Nasution had reportedly said that Malay fishermen risk their own lives to save some of the Russian sailors from their doomed ship, while shells rained from the German ship.

During the battle, it was reported that a total of 135 French and Russian sailors were killed and 157 others were wounded, while the Germans sustained no casualties.

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