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DIVERS HELP NEEDED RESTING PLACE OF RUSSIAN CRUISER 'VARYAG'

South Ayrshire Council Provost Winifred Sloan took part in a poignant memorial ceremony at Lendalfoot to mark the last resting place of the ‘Varyag’ a Russian cruiser with a permanent memorial.  At the same ceremony Councillor Gibson T Macdonald, the Leader of the Council has asked that any divers who have removed items from the vessel contact him. Since 1920 the cruiser, which has become an icon in Russian culture, has been resting 500 metres from the shore at Lendalfoot. On 27 January 1904 fifteen Japanese battleships surrounded the first class cruiser ‘Varyag’ and the ‘Koreyet’ gunboat at the Korean port of Chemulpo. The commander of the Japanese squadron demanded that they surrender and lower their flags. The Russian seamen rejected the ultimatum and led both ships out of the port to engage in battle.  Being heavily outnumbered the ships sustained serious damage from enemy fire. When it became clear that continued resistance was impossible, the Russian seamen scuttled the ships and were taken aboard by foreign vessels stationed nearby. They were received at home in Russia as heroes. In 1905, the Varyag was recovered by the Japanese and repaired. It served with the Imperial Japanese Navy as the cruiser Soya. In 1916, the cruiser was returned to Russia and given its old name back. In 1917, the Varyag was sent to Britain to undergo repairs, but was forgotten after the October Revolution and the Civil War hit Russia. In 1920, the ship was sold to Germany as a hulk and enroute to Germany it ran aground just off the coast at Lendalfoot. A group of senior Russian politicians, naval personnel and prominent business people, flew into Prestwick International Airport on a specially chartered flight from Moscow to lead the memorial ceremony.  Metropol, one of the largest banks in the world and a Russian financial institution, generously sponsored the whole memorial ceremony and the reception afterwards. Alexander Gromov, the Deputy of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation addressed those at the memorial service telling them about the Varyag and the cruisers brave crew. Councillor Gibson Macdonald, the Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Provost Sloan joined the Russian delegation at Lendalfoot along with the local Councillors and others who were invited to the ceremony. Provost Sloan welcomed the Russian delegation and said:  “I consider it an honour and a privilege to have taken part in the memorial ceremony which honoured with pride the memory of the Russian cruiser “Varyag”.  A cruiser that is recognised as a symbol of courage, devotion and heroism not only by Russian seafarers, but by sailors the world over. “I feel that it is fitting that a permanent memorial has been placed so that people may go and pay their respects.” Nikita Rudnev, the grandson of the ‘Varyag’s’ Commander unveiled the permanent memorial at the picnic spot to the south of the small village.  Thereafter VIP’S and members of the Russian Navy Orchestra were welcomed about the Royal Navy’s HMS Bangor, which had travelled to the area to mark the occasion.  They sailed to the spot where the wreck lies and laid wreaths whilst onshore a lone piper played a lament. Councillor Macdonald appealed to all divers to contact him who have items from the vessel, he said:  “Since the vessel came to rest just off of Lendalfoot recreational divers have enjoyed many hours diving in the wreck and exploring it. “I think that now that a memorial has been erected and the importance of this vessel is known it would be fitting that a display of items which have been collected from the Varyag were put on display either here or in Russia. “I am therefore appealing to anyone who has any items that came from the Varyag to contact me on 01292 612390.” Russian Military band played to mark the event Royal Navy Minesweeper pays tribute Provost Sloan spoke at the memorial event Varyag Event Memorial August 2006