Posted by Murrisk on October 08, 2001 at 20:18:07:
In 1904-05 Japan and Russia were at war. On October 2, 1904, the Russian Baltic Fleet (45 ships) left for the far east where it would be anniliated by the Japanese on May 14, 1905. The Russians were paranoid of a Japanese attack even in the Baltic. At 11:30 P.M. on October 8, 1904 (the year Stephan Garvey was born in Castle Street)the Russian fleet, believing it was under fire from Japanese torpedo boats, opened fire on the 'attackers'. Tragically, the Russian fleet had blundered into the Hull fishing fleet which was trawling on the Dogger Bank. The Russians sank half the trawling fleet, put several rounds into one of its own cruisers, and created a major diplomatic incident. After this incident the Russian fleet was sheparded to Gibralter by British warships to avoid any repeat incidents.