Alexander Mikhailovich Lermontov

Alexander Mikhailovich Lermontov (1838-1906)

Alexander Mikhailovich Lermontov was born on 27 February 1838 in Libava, Russia /nowadays Liepaya, Latvia/. He was nephew of Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov and graduated 1856 at the Page Corps. In 1872 A. M. Lermontov was promoted to colonel and became commander of 13th Dragunski Regiment.
On 6 February 1878 the "Flying Squad" of the Russian army, consisting of 13 Dragunski Regiment and 13 Hussars Narvski Regiment, (led by General Alexander Alexandrovich Pushkin, the son of the poet) under the command of Colonel Lermontov liberated the cities Burgas and Elena. For his feat Colonel Lermontov was awarded a gold weapon "Za hrabrost" (engl. "For bravery"), with Order of St. Vladimir III Degree, swords Sv.Stanislav I Rank, and promoted to rank Major General. After the war he was appointed commander of Her Majesty's Leib-Guards Kirasirski Regiment, commander of the 12th Cavalry Division, commander of 1st Cavalry Corps. In 1902 A.M.Lermontov was appointed a member of the Military Council. He died on 26 December 1906, buried in Novodevichy Cemetery in St. Petersburg.

At 3 pm on February 6, 1878 the "Flying Squad" of Col. Lermontov, consisting of four infantry companies, three dragunski platoons and two horse guns, approached the outskirts of Burgas. For several hours already the citizens of Burgas collected at that place, were waiting with trepidation for the arrival of the liberators. Under the sounds of church bells, the city notables, clergy and three foreign consuls met the Russian soldiers with great solemnity.
The note, which Col. Lermontov sent to the army headquarters, reads: "Representatives of the city brought us bread and salt. The whole population had been crowding on the streets and gathered on the square where the thanksgiving service was celebrated".