Loyalist activists in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk have found a new way of countering the pro-Russian and probably Russian agents provocateurs attempting to provoke a movement to join the Russian Federation. Since that did not exist at the time of the break-up of the USSR, the verb "rejoin" is totally inappropriate.
The activists are mocking the mock referendum held under the shadow of Putin's guns in Crimea by proposing a referendum of their own. They want Donetsk to leave Ukraine and join the country of the city's founder. The clue to this is in the old name of the city, Yuzovka which is a form of Hughesovka, named after the person who founded the steel works on which the town's fortune grew and who established the city for its workers.
John Hughes was a semi-literate who could not write and could only read in capital letters yet founded a works that first operated in 1872 but by 1913 was producing 74% of Russian iron. He had made his fortune and reputation from inventions he patented in his 20s. By the age of 28 he owned a shipyard and by 36 a foundry in South Wales. In the mid 1850s he moved to London to the Millwall Iron Works and Shipbuilding Company. This was famed for its "ironcladding" of British warships. In 1858 it launched Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS Great Eastern. She was the largest ship ever built at the time and was too big to be launched conventionally in the confines of the Thames. I actually live on the opposite bank to where there are still remains of the specially built slipway to launch it sideways and yes Ms Palin, I can see it from my window.
Ten years later, the Works received an order from the Imperial Russian navy for the plating of a fortress at a naval base near St Petersburg. After getting the concession to develop metal works in the area Hughes founded the "New Russia Company Ltd" and acquired land on which to build his new ironworks. In 1870 he set sail with 8 ships with the necessary equipment to start up his facility together with about a hundred miners and ironworkers, most of who came from his native South Wales. He established the factory close to the river Kalmius, at a site near the village of Alexandrovka in the Ukraine on what we would now call a "green field" site.
Since the works and the housing for the workers needed building materials, a brickworks grew up. New collieries and mines were opened up to feed the ironworks. Soon there were the all the facilities required of a self sufficient industrial community. Hughes provided a hospital, schools, bath houses, tea rooms, a fire brigade and an Anglican church dedicated to the patron saints St George and St David. He is also credited with bringing soccer to the region and the city's team is one of the most successful in Ukraine. John died in 1889 but the enterprise carried on under the management of four of his sons. Today Donetsk has about a million inhabitants.
Some residents of Donetsk are using social networks to promote an on line "petition". The following is a Google translation of the original Russian article on the Novosti Donbassa web site:
In social networks appeared initiative vote for reunification Donetsk with the UK, based on the fact that the city was founded by Englishman John Hughes.
"Donchane! Brotherhood English! Decisive moment! As you know, Yuzivka (" Donetsk ") native English town, founded by the great industrialist Englishman - John Hughes. For over a hundred years Russian deceived us, it primordially Russian city, and Ukrainians - that Ukrainian! We demand a referendum on the return to their original Yuzovka bosom - a part of Great Britain ! Glory John Hughes and his town! God save the Queen! " - Urge authors of the initiative.
The following is a form of voting called "referendum on returning Yuzovka (" Donetsk ") in the UK." Voted for more than 7000 people, 61% of them were in favor of joining the UK, 16% - for broad autonomy to regional English.
You might note that in common with many, these Ukrainians have conflated England with the rest of Britain so maybe they should be calling for a Welsh speaking autonomous region. May they proudly sing the Welsh anthem Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau ("Land of my fathers") since part of the first stanza is peculiarly appropriate for Ukraine today:
Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mad,
Dros ryddid collasant eu gwaed.
In almost literal translation:
Her brave warriors, very splendid patriots,
For freedom shed their blood