In the European springtime of 1996, Andrejs Everitt’s maternal grandfather Raimond Tiltins (accompanied by Andrejs’ mother Anda) returned to Latvia for the first time in almost 50 years.
Raimond’s emotional pilgrimage to his old hometown, the Latvian capital of Riga coincided with the nation’s Legion Day (March 16). A Legionnaire through the dark days of the Second World War, Raimond took the liberty of reuniting with loved ones and revisiting the local military barracks where he once so capably served.
March 16 was identified in exile by the Daugavas Vanagi veterans’ organization, because it was on that date in 1944 that both divisions of the Latvian Legion joined forces for the first time against the Soviet Army, in what was the only battle of the war solely led by Latvian commanders.
The Legionnaires fought the Russians on the eastern shore of the Velikaya for the strategically important Hill “93,4”. On the morning of March 16, the Soviet assault began, and the defenders were forced to withdraw, but the Russians did not break the Latvian Legionnaires’ resistance - and on the 18th a counter-attack by the 15th Division recaptured the hill with minimal losses.
The youngest of six children (after Debbie, Tamara, Peter, Linda and Natalie), Andrejs was only 19 when Raimond died in 2008 - and yet his grandfather’s influence was truly profound. This week, a week in which the AFL celebrates its Multicultural Round, Andrejs took time out to reflect on his truly unique family story.
Andrejs Everitt has strong links with Latvia. (Photo & artwork: Carlton Football Club)
My mother Anda was born in Australia in 1950, but her father Raimond, mother Mirdza and brother Juris Tiltins came to this country by ship in 1948 two years before.
My father Peter was also born here. His father Phillip was born in England in 1912, but was taken away from his parents and sent to Australia. As a young boy he was placed in foster care in Benalla, and he actually met his future wife in a hostel run by the Salvation Army. He later fought for Australia in the Second World War.
While I don’t know too much else about Phillip, it’s an interesting thought that my grandfathers fought on opposing sides through the Second World War.
I’ve got a genuine desire to pursue the Everitt and Tiltins family stories, and at the moment I’m looking into the Latvian side due to my mother’s interest. Mum wants to know more.
During the Second World War my grandad fought with the Latvian Legion, which I believe was faced with the option of siding with either the Germans or the Russians. The Legion sided with the Germans, but the Russians ultimately took control of Latvia and with it a lot of other places in the region.
It wasn’t until the war ended that the people protested against those who fought in the Latvian Legion. That forced many of the Legionnaires to leave for other places across the world and for my grandfather and grandmother and their son, who was about four years old, that place was Northam, north east of Perth.
Joining my grandparents and my uncle on that voyage was Mum’s godfather Leopold, who had also served in the Legion Army. My grandfather’s family remained in Latvia and he never saw his parents again, but my grandmother’s family came to Australia with them. When they first arrived they were put up in displaced refugee barracks, before my grandfather and grandmother found a nearby house where Mum was born 65 years ago - August 4, 1950. Mum was the second of three children and her younger sister Sandra was born four years later.
My grandparents, my uncle Juris and my Mum later crossed the Nullabor to be reunited with my grandmother's parents who had settled in Melbourne. There they found other displaced Latvians who’d settled into the community, and so they formed part of a tightknit unit that socialised together and stayed together. They found a place in Reservoir and my grandfather’s parents later joined them there. Reservoir was home until Mum was four or five when the family relocated to a place my grandfather built in Preston, at 90 Regent Street, West Preston. Later they resettled out Croydon way and that’s the place I remember.
Mum told me that she spent all her childhood years speaking Latvian, because her parents struggled with English. I wouldn’t say Mum is fluent in the Latvian language now, but at Christmas time when she’s on the phone to relatives back in Riga you’ll hear her use the Latvian language – and I’m afraid the only Latvian word I know is “sveiki” (“hello”).
The hardest thing for my grandfather and grandmother was adapting to their new life. My grandfather found work on the railroads for a few years to make a living, and he did whatever he had to do to better the lives for him and his family.
My grandparents are gone now, and my Mum’s brother passed away a few years ago, but Mum and her sister (my Aunty) are still going strong.
I was 19 when my maternal grandfather died, but only 11 or 12 when my Dad’s father passed away. In both instances I probably didn’t understand the whole concept, but thinking back on it now it really gets my mind going, and I do want to get back one day, particularly to Latvia.
My Mum joined my grandfather on that trip to Latvia – their first time back in 50 years. They were unable to go back earlier, as there remained a risk the Russians could take my grandfather to task for fighting for the Legionnaires – which probably explains why he always had trouble with authority!
My granddad wasn’t an overly emotional man, but to return to his hometown after so many years was overwhelming for him. He was reunited with men he knew from those days in the Legion and he shared the unique memories and experiences that bonded them all together, much the same as those shared by Premiership players 50 years after the event.
In terms of the stories I’ve heard I’m truly inspired by the lives of my grandparents. It’s why I have such an interest in Latvia even though my Latvian name is somewhat hidden behind the name Everitt.
Maybe one day, perhaps when my football is over, I will take Mum back to Latvia, to Riga for Legionnaires’ Day.
