Sheffield Independent – Friday 17 January 1919

Bolshevik Destroyer.

Wath Naval Man Witnesses Capture of Enemy Ship.

A Wath naval man, J. Hunter, of 14, Park road, has had interesting experience with the Prussian Bolsheviks.

He was serving one of the British destroyers which on Boxing Day captured the Bolshevik destroyer Spartack, off Reval, in the Gulf of Finland.

They were about to sit down to a special Christmas dinner when the enemy hove in sight and commenced to attack ; and, much to the regret of the British crew, upset their dinner. The Bolsheviks, however, got more than tit-for-tat, and another British destroyer hastening to the scene, the Spartack, with a propeller broken, was soon made a prisoner.

The photograph given elsewhere, which was taken by Mr. Hunter at the time, shows the Spartack as she has surrendered blowing off steam, and the British ensign is just being run up. The Russian boat was splendidly equipped, and notably with fittings, telescopes, etc., which the British supplied to help Russia hold her corner in the war earlier on.

The day following the incident described another Bolshevik destroyer came the scene searching for its partner. It was rounded also and had to surrender.