In 1911, Harry SCOTTER was boarding with the WILKINSON family while employed as a steam trawler’s trimmer. Also present in this Grimsby household on census night was Charles TESTER, the son of Mary Ann née WILKINSON. Absent was Charles’ younger sister Lily, but an introduction must have been made because Harry married her in the spring of 1913. The couple had two daughters and a son before Harry sailed away on HMT Ralco to support HMS Glory, a “north Russia guardship” based in Murmansk. He didn’t come home. Taken ill aboard the trawler, he was transferred to Glory to receive medical attention. The deckhand’s death was recorded in Glory’s log.

British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials –

© The National Archives

The trawler survived the First World War and seems to have served in the Second. There is a photo of it at Ships Nostalgia.

Harry is buried at the Murmansk New British Cemetery.

A century later, the United Kingdom’s regime wants to destroy Russia rather than protect it.

For anyone who wants to read President Putin’s speech at the Accession Ceremony two days ago, the text can be found here (Kremlin – not secure) and at Moon of Alabama (secure).

Nature Morte 27 · Small Bird