His Majesty`s Warship (2001)

The film is dedicated to the sailors who fought in the Estonian War of Independence (start title). Actions of the British Royal Naval squadron in the Gulf of Finland in years of the Estonian War of Independence and story of perishing of the  minesweeper sloop HMS Myrtle.
The film tells about the Estonian War of Independence and activities of the British Royal Naval squadron in the Gulf of Finland during the years of the War of Independence in 1918-1919. 
In the 20th of November 1918, the British Government decided on request of the Estonian Foreign Delegation to send its squadron to the Baltic Sea. This decided largely the faith of the War of Independence. The British lost several vessels in course of the campaign, one of these – HMS Myrtle, to the coast of island Saaremaa.
These are the facts that the historical part of the film relies on.
The wreck of HMS Myrtle was discovered by chance and by hunting for treasure. It was discovered again under the direction of the sea archaeologist of the Maritime Museum Vello Mäss, and an expedition was organised to the wreck.
In the film, letters of a perished sailor participating in the battles to his wife are used.  The Russian historian Vitali Piragov tells in the forts and port of Kronstadt and the British historian Terry Charman tells in London who says in the film that “We wanted to launch democratic polity in Russia again. In connection with that we had to deal also with the Baltic problem, with the Estonians who fought for their independence…”
This is quite an outspoken confession like that of the journalist of the Observer Neal Asherson’s: ”… being honest – the role that the British troops and their activities played in gaining of Estonia’s independence is quite unknown in this country… We do not know anything about it…”

Keywords: historians | allveearheoloog | allveearheoloogia | briti mereväelased Vabadussõjas | Briti sõjalaevastik Vabadussõjas | diplomatic activity | Eesti ranniku kaitsmine | commemorating the victims | inglise sõjalaevastik | laevade hukkumine miinidel | laevade pommitamine | studying a shipwreck in the bottom of the sea | dock work at a port | recollections | maritime expedition | sea battle | meremehe kirjad naisele | mariners | meresõjaajalugu | miiniplahvatused | memorial service in church | memorial ceremony | pommilennukite rünnak | Punaarmee laevastik | diving | cannon fire | war history | military operations | sõjasadam | raid of Tallinn | diver | uppunud miinitraaler | research ship | chasing treasure | välisriikide abi Vabadussõjas | View all »