ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jack Warren was born in London, England, where he excelled at history. He immigrated to Australia on the ‘ten-pound pom’ program and embarked on a sales career.

He has travelled extensively in his new home, the United States and Europe. During retirement he was involved in Sunday radio for pensioners. He is currently a lecturer at the University of the Third Age, specialising in British/American colonial history and the Ottoman Empire.

A Debt of History is his first book, which is the result of five years of research, writing and creativity.

A great yarn with its strength in a colourful historical setting.
Peter Watt, best-selling author 

Jack Warren has written a story that is fascinating in its detail but even more remarkable in that it is based on a true story. This intriguing story is about a chain of historical events that changed the shape of Jewish history, with particular significance for the State of Israel.
Robert Menzies, author

Endorsement by Robert Menzies

Jack Warren has written a story that is fascinating in its detail but even more remarkable in that it is based on a true story. This intriguing story is about a chain of historical events that changed the shape of Jewish history, with particular significance for the State of Israel.

Jack Warren tells the story through the eyes a young Russian Jewish seaman from Odessa, Michael Lipman, who sails on a Russian ship, the Alexander Nevsky, in 1919, just after the Russian Revolution and during the ensuing civil war. He discovers a frightening truth in his journey from Russia down to Yalta in Crimea. His ship is laden with five million English pounds’ worth of gold, diamonds and jewellery belonging to the Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, and his mother, the Dowager Empress, who are escaping from the Bolsheviks to exile in England where the Dowager’s sister is a member of the British Royal Family.

The Nevsky is carrying the secret treasures while the royal family is travelling close by in its sister ship the Marlborough. While sailing through the Aegean Sea, just off the coast of Crete, the Nevsky is suddenly and unexpectedly hit by a Turkish mine which tears a large hole in its side, causing it to sink suddenly to the bottom of the ocean 2250 metres below where it is too deep to be recovered.

Michael is rescued by a Greek ship, the Stavros, where he makes the decision not to return to Russia but to eventually make his way to Palestine and begin a new life in the Promised Land.

The story moves forward sixty-seven years to 1986 when Michael is an old man of eighty-six living in Israel. He contacts officials of the Israeli Government and tells them his incredible story, providing detailed maps of where the Nevsky went down. He is prepared to do all he can to help his government recover the treasure, but he has some conditions of his own which must first be met.

The Israeli prime minister agrees to try and salvage the treasure from the bottom of the ocean, but to do so he will need the assistance of the US Government. However, the Israeli Government does not want the rest of the world to know what it is up to, particularly the Russians, so they devise an elaborate scam to make it appear they are searching for an ancient Roman vessel, the Spirit of Jupiter, which sank in Aegean waters in 71 AD.

With American expertise and Michael’s help, the Israelis manage to recover the treasure from the sunken Nevsky, still in perfect condition, now valued at over five hundred million American dollars. They contact the Russians, inform them of their find and offer to give the treasure back to them, but only if certain conditions are met—conditions that Michael himself has set.

What follows is an intriguing verbal war between the two governments, each attempting to out-bargain the other and each searching for a means of forcing the other party into accepting the conditions they have set for the return of the treasure.

When Michael’s conditions are finally revealed, the result is an historic and revolutionary victory for the Jewish people.

The book’s historical facts and dates support the authenticity of the story. With the brief romance between Michael and a Greek woman called Elena—the two of them escape from the protective eyes of her sister and make love amongst the empty grain sacks in a disused shed—the author  provides a respite from the political-historical details to describe two lonely, lost human beings coming together in a frenzy of clandestine passion.

Warren’s story will fascinate readers of authentic historical novels who are attracted by the lure of accurate factual recall and political conflict. For Jewish readers or those who sympathise with the Jewish cause, this is a book that will instil pride in the accomplishments of an historically oppressed and persecuted race.

 Robert Menzies

Foreword

A salute of thirty-one guns thundered out from the battlements of the fortress of St. Peter and St. Paul.

The date was 6th March 1913, and the cannonade heralded the commencement in St. Petersburg—the capital of the vast Russian Empire—of a series of celebrations to mark three hundred years of rule by the Romanoff Dynasty.

The occasion could not be regarded as propitious for the Imperial family.

Since the defeat of Russia by Japan in the war of 1905–06, conditions in the nation had deteriorated.

The grand titles of ‘Tsar and Autocrat of All the Russias’ were not empty ones; he held absolute power. Nicholas II had reluctantly granted limited powers to the Duma (Parliament) which had failed to alleviate the general unrest, resentment and dissatisfaction among the people, and ‘on this memorable day the crowds lining the streets to watch the colourful procession on its way to the Kazan Cathedral were thin and lacking in enthusiasm’—The London Times, 6th March 1913.

Within, the cathedral glowed with spiritual and material splendour and was filled with people of the highest rank from all over the Empire, as well as many members of the Imperial and royal houses of Europe.

In the evening, despite the rain which had fallen all day, there were crowds outside the Opera House awaiting the arrival of the Imperial family and their guests.

The ladies of the Romanoff family each possessed a magnificent collection of jewellery (these will be significant in my story).

Moving forward in time to the period immediately after the Russian Revolution, the nation was torn by civil war, with the Bolshevik forces attempting to establish their rule over areas controlled by pro-Tsarist armies under Admiral Kolchak in the eastern parts of Russia, and General Denekin in the western provinces near the European borders.

The Tsar, Tsarina and their children were prisoners of the Bolsheviks and were doomed, but they do not form part of my story. The Tsar’s mother, the Dowager Empress Marie Feoderovna (the former Princess Dagmar of Denmark) and her party do.

In a journey lasting several weeks they travelled down to Yalta in the Crimea. I have written that during their journey Admiral Kolchak met them and passed over a large amount of gold bullion and coins for the purpose of purchasing war material and supplies needed to enable the pro-Tsarist forces to continue their efforts to restore the dynasty.

(N.B. In his book Once a Grand Duke by Grand Duke Alexander, a cousin of the last tsar, he wrote that Admiral Kolchak held over six hundred and fifty million gold roubles, ‘a hefty portion of which disappeared’). There is also a large trunk with special compartments containing the personal jewels and treasures of members of the Imperial family. When the Dowager Empress reached Yalta she remained there for some months while the civil war raged on, and finally yielded to the entreaties of her sister in England, Queen Alexandra. With a large party they boarded a British battleship, HMS Marlborough, sent to carry them away to eventual exile in April 1919.

At this point in my story the gold and the trunk containing the jewels is placed secretly aboard an Imperial Russian warship to accompany the battleship, without the knowledge of the British. The warship is sunk by a mine in the Mediterranean Sea, in waters which were too deep for divers to reach in those days.

Among the crew of the Russian warship is a young Jewish sailor who is rescued by a Greek freighter, and after experiences described during his journey, reaches his chosen destination to start a new life in Palestine.

By chance, he had realised the contents of the secret cargo aboard the Russian warship and will make use of this knowledge in years to come. The story moves forward to present times.

Among the serious problems besetting Israel is the loss of hundreds of thousands of her people who have left the country to make a new start in other lands—the United States, Canada and Australia. This has happened for several reasons: the incessant wars since the establishment of Israel in 1948, loss of family members due to these wars and acts of terrorism, and the hard life in general.

The majority of these people will not return, so my story describes an elaborate operation to recover the Tsarist treasure and embark upon a plan to replace the people who have left.

I have incorporated historical facts in my novel, which also deal with international intrigues, duplicity, and covert operations in order to achieve the objective.

 Jack Warren

READ A SAMPLE:

Chapter 1

The drawing room of the Palace of Am Todor in Kiev, residence of the Dowager Empress Marie Fedorovna, mother of Tsar Nicholas II, was filling rapidly with members of the Imperial family. They stood or sat around in small groups speaking quietly, the atmosphere charged with uncertainty and fear. The revolution so often predicted had happened, and although a moderate Liberal Government under Alexander Kerensky had assumed power in February 1917, it had in turn been overthrown by the Bolsheviks, in October of the same year, and the position of the Imperial family had become precarious.

The doors leading to the private apartments opened and the Dowager Empress, accompanied by the Comptroller of her household, Count Brozhnick, and her goddaughter Princess Erica of Serbia, entered. Almost in unison, the Grand Dukes bowed and their wives swept curtsies. The Empress acknowledged their obeisance by inclining her head and then she moved to a large gilt and velvet chair used for her private receptions. Her face was pale and drawn but her voice was steady as she spoke.

‘I have asked you to attend me today as there is a matter of the greatest importance to discuss with you. There is no further news of Nicky and his family and I fear the worst has happened to them at the hands of the Bolsheviks.’

The Dowager Empress paused, aware of the complete silence in the room as they waited for her to continue.

‘We have considered before this, the painful necessity of leaving our land at various times since the upheaval.’

The Dowager Empress had a marked reluctance to use the term ‘revolution’, being haunted by the grisly assassination of her father-in-law Tsar Alexander II, and the fate met by Louis XVI of France and his family during the French Revolution.

‘We all know the change in government has not been accepted throughout the nation,’ she continued, ‘indeed, our loyal Admiral Kolchak and General Denikin are achieving some success in the provinces they control, and it may be that the with the aid of our former Allies, the regime in Moscow will be overthrown. However, after discussing the family’s situation with Serge and Nicholas,’ the Dowager Empress looked at each in turn and received a slight bow of the head from them, ‘I have taken the decision to leave for Yalta in the Crimea as soon as possible.’

A ripple of apprehension went through the assembled family, for although all knew of the possibility of the Dowager Empress’ departure, the confirmation of her decision was a shock.

‘I believe we have the right to preserve and retain our personal possessions, and since each of us must choose our time of departure, it will be hazardous for individuals to carry articles of great value with them. We have devised a method of transporting all the personal valuables of the family to safety, that is, those of you who wish to participate.’

The Dowager Empress paused and looked at the Grand Duke Serge, saying, ‘Please have it brought in, Serge Alexandrovich.’

The Duke inclined his head and disappeared through the doors leading to the private apartments. The Grand Duchess Natalia looked at her cousin Olga questioningly, who whispered in reply, ‘Mamma has been so secretive lately; I have no idea what it can be.’

Some minutes later, the Grand Duke Serge reappeared, followed slowly by two stalwart attendants in livery carrying a very large square object covered with a shiny material. With a wave of his hand, the Comptroller Count Broznick dismissed the attendants, who bowed and retired closing the double doors after them.

Looking at the nearest group, Grand Duke Serge said, ‘I shall require some assistance.’ Two of the Grand Dukes came forward and proceeded to unwrap the heavy green oilskin cover, which revealed a huge trunk. It was dark green in colour and had three large brass locks securing the lid. As the men proceeded to snap open the locks and raise the heavy lid, those present became aware that with the effort it took the three men to handle, the whole trunk was fashioned from metal.

The Dowager Empress led the concerted movement to surround the trunk and gaze with astonishment at its size. It was three feet high and four feet long, bound with wide bands of metal. As the lid was swung back to the limit, it disclosed a tray with compartments lined in red baize, which when lifted up showed one exactly the same below.

Grand Duke Serge said, ‘There are ten more like these inside, and we will allocate one to each of your families for their valued possessions. Every tray with its contents will be carefully wrapped and covered in fine chamois and oilskin leather, then marked and sealed with its owner’s name.’

‘I propose to leave on Sunday,’ said the Dowager Empress. There was a gasp of shock from several of the women present and the Grand Duchess Xenia said, ‘Mamma, not so soon surely. How can we be ready in four days?’

‘There is little time to act,’ replied the Dowager Empress. ‘The situation can change any day. Also there is much to prepare and many arrangements to be made.’

Grand Duke Nicholas said, ‘Her Majesty will be escorted by two companies of the Semenovsky Regiment and will make her way south to Yalta. The British Government has arranged to provide a battleship to convey those who follow to England. Also there are other matters of State to be taken care of on the way.’

‘What other matters?’ asked Grand Duke Vladimir.

‘It is not convenient to discuss them at this time,’ replied Nicholas. ‘Be assured they are of importance to the future of the nation.’

‘Although this trunk is large,’ said the Dowager Empress, ‘there will be many others and they should not excite much curiosity. When we reach England safely and all members of our family have arrived, the trunk will be opened in our presence and its contents returned to their owners. Those who are unwilling to make use of this means of transporting their treasures may make their own arrangements—and accept the risks.’

‘The personal luggage of the Dowager Empress will be guarded day and night,’ said the Grand Duke Serge, ‘and this seems to be the best method of protecting your property.’

‘Please return to your homes and consider the matter,’ said the Dowager Empress. ‘Those who wish to accept the offer must return here no later than Saturday in order for their valuables to be packed away. I am well aware that some of you will have misgivings. Some will be reluctant to put their valuable jewels together in one container, but with the country in such a high state of chaos and confusion, coupled with the uncertainty of control and authority in different provinces, there appears to be a better chance of a strongly escorted party such as mine arriving safely at our destination. Those who decide to leave with us will travel in our company for better protection. There is little more to be said. You have my permission to retire.’

The Dowager Empress turned and, accompanied by Princess Erica and Count Brozhnick, left the room.

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