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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 893

The Great War pair and Memorial Plaque to Private T. Swalwell, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales's) Regiment, who was killed in action at the heroic defence of Baku in August 1918

British War and Victory Medals 1914-19 (31881 Pte. T. Swalwell. N.Staff.R.), original ribands; Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Thomas Swalwell), very fine (3)

Thomas Swalwell served as a Private with the 7th Battalion, North Staffordshire (Prince of Wales's) Regiment at the defence of Baku in 1918. Situated on the Caspian Sea, this Russian port and oil field held matériel vital to the Allied war effort, but was perilously exposed to Turkish armies following the Russian Revolution, which led to the withdrawal of Russian forces from the region. Led by Colonel Robert Keyworth, the under-strength 7th North Staffords (some 280 men) marched from Mesopotamia and arrived at Baku on 5 August 1918. Arriving just in time, they threw back five Turkish assaults that day, despite being outnumbered ten-to-one and subjected to poison gas. The British managed to recruit and train some 10,000 Russian and Armenian levies, but these proved unreliable, melting away in the face of enemy aggression. On 14-15 August the 7th North Staffords held a mud volcano against over 14,000 Turkish troops led by Nuri Pasha, who claimed to be leading an 'Army of Islam'. Four Turkish assaults were repelled, before sheer weight of numbers compelled the 7th North Staffords to withdraw towards the city.

Major-General Dunsterville arrived at Baku on 16 August with two understrength Battalions, the 9th Warwicks and 9th Worcesters. This brought the British total to around 1,000 men. Following a lengthy bombardment, which killed some 6,000 Armenian civilians, the Turks attacked the city of Baku itself on 26 August. Swalwell was killed in action that day, while vainly attempting to halt the Turkish advance. The situation was hopeless, and on 14 September Dunsterville evacuated the British forces aboard the steamers President Krüger, Abo and Kursk. Some 200 British casualties had been suffered. Following the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October, the defeated Turks left the ruined city of Baku, which was re-occupied by a British delegation. Swalwell is commemorated on the Tehran Memorial (Panel 4, Column 2); sold with copied MIC.


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Sold for
£320

Starting price
£140