Nikolai Dimitrievich Dabić
Nikolai Dimitrievich Dabić (also spelled Dabitch or Dabich; Kherson, Imperial Russia, 23 April 1857 – Kherson, Imperial Russia, 1908) was a Russian vice-admiral, a highly accomplished commander of the Imperial Russian Navy, decorated numerous times for valor in the Russo-Japanese War. He was of Serbian origin.[1]
[edit]
The Dabić family had several officers in the Russian military, the most prominent among them is Vice-Admiral Nikolai Dimitrievich Dabić. Nikolai's great grandfather was sergeant major Zaharije Dabić, who in February 1754 is mentioned as living in the newly-established Russian province Slavo-Serbia under commanders Rajko Depreradović and Jovan Šević. Vice-Admiral Nikolai Dimitrievic Dabić was born in Kherson on 23 April 1857. His brother was Aleksandar Dimitrievich Dabić (1855 - 1880), a lieutenant in the navy. Dabić entered the Imperial Russian Navy at the age of 12. He was educated at the prestigious N. G. Kuznetsov Naval Academy in Saint Petersburg, and in 1877 was promoted to michman. He became a senior lieutenant on 17 January 1882. In January 1891 he was in command of Zorka. He was promoted to Captain 2nd rank on 28 March 1893. He was in command of the Russian monitor Admiral Spiridov, from 6 December 1895 and on, cruisers Afrika, from 6 December 1898 and on, Yaroslav 2 (ex-Evropa), from 13 September 1900 and on, and Gromoboi, from 1902 to 1906 in the Far East service.[2] He was promoted to Captain 1st rank on 17 April 1901.[3] He participated in the Russo-Japanese War as commander of the ironclad Russian cruiser Gromoboi (Thunderer).[4] In a battle with the Japanese on 1 August 1904, he was seriously wounded and received an award for bravery.[5] Because of the courage exhibited in battle by everyone aboard, the greatest praise of all belonged to Captain Dabić of the Gromoboi[6] [7] for setting an example while wounded under fierce barrage shelling by the superior Japanese force.[8] He was again awarded medals of valor. Dabić was promoted to flag rank as rear-admiral on 5 March 1907. Promoted to the rank of vice-admiral the following year (20 October 1908), he was placed on the Retired List at his own request, owing to wounds sustained in the Russo-Japanese War.
He died in 1908.
Awards[edit]
- Order of Saint George IV degree (awarded on 27 September 1904),
- Order of St. Vladimir III and IV,
- Order of St. Anna II and III degree,
- Order of St. Stanislav II and III level.
In addition, Dabić was awarded the Prussian Order of the Red Eagle III level.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- Translated and adapted the Dabich biography from the Russian website[9]
- Photograph of Nikolai Dimitrievich Dabić[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "Russian nobility : SERBIAN ORIGIN during the reign of the Romanov dynasty" (PDF). Freepages.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ "The Story of One Russian Armoured Cruiser". English Russia. April 30, 2013.
- ^ Studies, Royal United Services Institute for Defence (August 4, 1901). "Journal of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies". W. Mitchell and Son – via Google Books.
- ^ Combe, George Sydenham Clarke Baron Sydenham of (August 4, 1898). Russia's Sea-power, Past and Present: Or, The Rise of the Russian Navy. J. Murray. p. 161 – via Internet Archive.
imperial russian ship Gromoboy.
- ^ "Cassell's history of the Russo-Japanese war". London ; New York : Cassell. August 4, 1904 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "The Directory & Chronicle for China, Japan, Corea, Indo-China, Straits Settlements, Malay States, Sian, Netherlands India, Borneo, the Philippines, &c: With which are Incorporated "The China Directory" and "The Hong Kong List for the Far East" ..." Hongkong daily Press office. August 4, 1904 – via Google Books.
- ^ Halstead, Murat (May 16, 2019). "The war between Russia and Japan, containing thrilling accounts of fierce battles by sea and land ." [n.p – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Биография Николай Дабич". Peoples.ru. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
- ^ "Список знаменитостей на Дабич". Peoples.ru. 23 April 1857. Retrieved 4 August 2019.