This memorial marker situated outside the Estonian Maritime Museum, wich is located at 70 Pikk Street, reads:
"[An outline depiction of a warship]
IN MEMORY
of the officers and seamen of the British Royal Navy
who served and gave their lives in the cause of freedom
in the Baltic during the Estonian War of Independence
1918 - 1920
MALESTUSEKS
Briti Kuningliku Merevae ohvitseridele ja meremeestele
kes voitle sid ja andsid oma elu Balti rikide vabaduse eest
Eesti Vabqdussmas
1918-1920
The following Admirals were decorated
with the Estonian Cross of Liberty for their distinguished services:
Merevaeohvitserid.keda silmapaistva teenistuse eest
autasustati Eesti Vabadusristiga:
Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair G.C.B. M.V.O. VRI/I
1865 -1945
Admiral Sir Walter Cowan of the Baltic Bart K.C.B. D.S.O. M.V.O, VRI/I
1871-1956
Admiral Sir Sydney Freemantle G.C.B. M.V.O. VRI/I
1867-1958
Admiral Sir Bertram Thesiger K.B.E. C.B. C.M.G. VRI/I
1875-1966
On behalf of the grateful people of Estonia
Tanulik Eesti rahvas"
Admiral Sir Edwyn Alexander-Sinclair:
"In 1914, at the start of World War I, Alexander-Sinclair was captain of the dreadnought HMS Temeraire, before flying his flag in HMS Galatea from 1915 as Commodore of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron.
He received the CB for his part in the destruction of Zeppelin L 7 on 4 May 1916.
On 31 May 1916 it was the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron under Alexander-Sinclair that first engaged scouting vessels of the German High Seas Fleet and signalled "enemy in sight", leading to the Battle of Jutland, after which he received a Mention in Despatches from Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty, commander of the Battlecruiser Fleet, and the Russian Order of St. Vladimir (Third Class) with swords.
Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1917, he then commanded the 6th Light Cruiser Squadron, flying his flag in HMS Cardiff. In November 1918 Alexander-Sinclair was given the honour of leading the surrendered German Fleet into internment at Scapa Flow, and awarded the KCB.
Soon afterwards, in December 1918, Alexander-Sinclair's 6th Squadron was sent to the Baltic, at the request of Estonian Government, to take part in the Estonian War of Independence. They delivered 6500 rifles, 200 machine guns and two field guns. The British squadron also captured two Russian destroyers, Spartak and Avtroil, and turned them over to Estonia, which renamed them Vambola and Lennuk. Alexander-Sinclair then blockaded the Russian Navy base at Kronstadt until relieved by the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron under Rear-Admiral Walter Cowan." (
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Admiral Sir Walter Cowan:
In 1914, shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, he was given command of the old pre-dreadnought HMS Zealandia. Six months later he took over the 26,270 ton HMS Princess Royal as flag captain to Osmond Brock. He commanded her at the Battle of Jutland, where she was badly damaged. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 1916.
In June 1917 Cowan was made Commodore of the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron.[1] In 1918 he was promoted Rear-Admiral, staying in command of the squadron. In January 1919 the squadron was sent to the Baltic.[1] The squadron kept the sea lanes open to the newly independent Estonia and Latvia, enabling them to secure their freedom. During the course of this campaign, coastal torpedo boats attached to Cowan's command sank two Bolshevik battleships and one cruiser at Kronstadt naval base. Augustus Agar received the Victoria Cross for his part in these events. Andrew Browne Cunningham, later Britain's leading World War II admiral, commanded Cowan's destroyers in this campaign. Cowan's forceful diplomacy ensured a successful mission, for which he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1919 and created a Baronet, "of the Baltic", in the 1921 New Year Honours. (
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Admiral Sir Sydney Fremantle:
Fremantle joined the Admiralty in 1910 as the Head of the War Division, and by 1912 he was at Portsmouth, as President of the Signal Committee. While in this role Fremantle was charged with overseeing the overhaul of the existing signal systems and books to incorporate the latest advances made possible through wireless telegraphy. He was promoted to rear-admiral in 1913, and though his suggestion for a dedicated communications department was overtaken by the outbreak of war, a Signals Division was established at the Admiralty in 1914, with Fremantle as its head.
Fremantle became second-in-command of the Third Battle Squadron in 1915, followed by commander of the Ninth Cruiser Squadron in 1916, and the Second Cruiser Squadron in early 1917. He was appointed to command the British Aegean Squadron in August 1917, and in December advocated the resumption of raids on the Turkish coast, a proposal rejected by the Admiralty on the grounds that no significant benefits were anticipated to result. In January the following year Fremantle received a promotion to vice-admiral, and an appointment as Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. As the war drew to a close, Fremantle was one of the officers advocated the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet as a condition for an armistice. Fremantle continued in the navy after the end of the war, becoming commander of the First Battle Squadron in May 1919. (
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Admiral Sir Bertram Thesiger:
Sir Bertram joined the Royal Navy in 1887. He was invested as a companion, Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in 1911. He fought in the 1st World War and was mentioned in dispatches. During the 1914-18 war he commanded HMS Inconstant 1914-1915 and was in the battle of Jutland during 1916. He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath (CB) in 1916 and was decorated with the order of St. Anne of Russia 2nd Class with swords and the order of St.Vladimir of Russia with swords. He was also decorated with the United States Legion of Merit. (
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