Captain V. Chernikeeff

This page is a tribute to my grandfather Vassili Chernikeeff of the Imperial Russian Navy - a man who rose through the ranks to become a decorated officer in the Tzars Navy and who, along with thousands of others, escaped the Reds via Sevastople (where my father was born) to Constantinople (now Istanbul).

This page also serves to make contact with 'Chernikeeff's' and their descendants - so far there have been three notable contacts - with relatives in the town of Vyazniki near Moscow (where grandfather was born), with relatives in Kiev, Ukraine and with Jim Chernikeeff in Australia. I have visited both Vyazniki and Kiev to meet with my relatives - do you know of more?

History

Vassili was born in Vyazniki in 1875 and joined the Imperial Navy in 1890 as a 'Sailor 2nd Class' at the age of 15. Vassilli rose through the ranks becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in 1909 and onwards to the rank of 1st Captain. He was awarded the George Cross by the Tzar for his service in the Japo-Russo war.

He left Sevastopl in 1920 with many thousands of refugees from the Civil War to escape the Red Purges. Coming to Britain via Constantinople he set about to develop his 'Chernikeeff Log' a navigational instrument he invented in 1917. He took out a patent in England in 1920 and the first successful trials took place in 1922 after which it eventually was fitted to over 3,000 Royal Navy and merchant ships - one of these can now be seen in the Science Museum in London.

A copy of a press cutting sent to me by Jim Chernikeeff in Australia

 

A 'Chernikeeff Log' generously given to me by James Payton of Norwich who heard about my research through this site.