Skirmish of Halkokari facts for kids
The Skirmish of Halkokari was a short battle fought on June 7, 1854. It happened near the coast of Kokkola, a city in Finland. This fight was part of the Åland War, which was a smaller part of the bigger Crimean War. In this skirmish, a group of British soldiers tried to land in Kokkola. They were stopped by local troops from the Grand Duchy of Finland, which was then part of Russia.
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The British Campaign
Rear Admiral James Hanway Plumridge led a group of four British ships. His goal was to attack military and economic places along the Finnish coast. He started his attacks on May 19 in Ekenäs. Then, he sailed west, hitting places like the Hanko Peninsula. After that, he moved into the Gulf of Bothnia, attacking cities like Raahe and Oulu.
In these cities, the British burned ships, shipyards, and storage buildings. They destroyed valuable items like tar and other supplies. After Oulu, Admiral Plumridge split his fleet. Two of his ships, the Vulture and the Odin, headed south towards Kokkola.
Preparing for Battle
The waters near Kokkola were very rocky and dangerous. This meant the large British ships could not get closer than about 11 kilometers (7 miles) from the harbor.
Meanwhile, Finnish Major General Alexander Jakob von Wendt rushed to Kokkola. He came from Vaasa and brought two companies of soldiers and two cannons. A wealthy local businessman named Anders Donner also helped. He gathered 100 volunteers to defend the harbor at Halkokari cape.
The defenders quickly built a wooden wall, called a palisade. This wall helped hide them from the British. They also built a temporary bridge across the harbor entrance.
The Skirmish Begins
The British did not know that a strong group of defenders was waiting for them. They first demanded that the city destroy its valuable goods. When the city refused, the British prepared to attack.
The Finnish and Russian forces were ready. They surprised the British landing party with a sudden attack. The battle lasted only 45 minutes. The British lost two of their nine small gunboats.
After the Battle
Thanks to the quick defense, Kokkola was saved from the British attack. However, the British continued their coastal attacks the next summer.
The following year, in 1855, the British tried to attack Kokkola again. But this time, the city was even better prepared. On May 2, 1855, the Battle of Davidsberg took place. It was a three-hour fight with cannons between the British Navy and the coastal defenders. Once again, the attackers were pushed back. Kokkola suffered very little damage.
Remembering the Skirmish
The British lost 52 soldiers in the Skirmish of Halkokari, including those captured. In the end, 16 or 18 of them died. Nine British marines and sailors were left behind and are buried in Maria graveyard in Kokkola.
To remember the battle, there is a monument at Halkokari. There is also a captured English boat, a launch, on display. This boat is located at the edge of a park called Englanninpuisto. In 2020, this boat was believed to be the only captured British Royal Navy boat on display anywhere in the world.
