Tatiana and Vladimir Kiknadze

Reading Chebotareva’s diary I met for the first time the initial “K”, for a young officer who had a special relationship with Tatiana Nikolaevna. She was evidently in love and their little romance was extremely disagreeable to Valentina Ivanovna and Princess Gedroits. The first gave of him a very negative appreciation (I will provide those extracts for those of us who did not read the diary). But she did not gave any name nor indication of rang and regiment. Reading Tatiana’s diary and letters extracts I found that her beloved officer was a young “streets” (I do not know the English word) of the 3rd Regiment his Imperial Majesty called Vladimir (Volodia) Kiknadze. Kiknadze – a Georgian, at least Caucasian family name – was wounded 2 times, in the second part of 1915 and in autumn 1916. Each time he stayed a while at Her Imperial Majesty’s own Lazaret and then was sent to the Crimea. He arrived the first time approximately in summer 1915.
I provide this time Tatiana’s diary entries about him. We will meet an other favorite of the Imperial sisters of mercy, Shakh-Bagov, with whom Tatiana had a good friendship. Next time I will provide Chebotareva’s diary entries witch are much more interesting and detailed, as usual.


23.10.1915
Then I sat with Shakh-Bagov and we played. Then I played ping-pong (little tennis) with Volodia. Then with him, Opochkovitch and Gubarev we played (a card game).

25.10
In the morning we were at the Liturgy. Volodia was there, Mitia and others. I was terribly happy to see them.

26.10
Then I played with Volodia, then sat with him in the corridor. Mitia was also there. They were very sweet. (…) We had dinner together. Then I spoke with Mitia and Volodia by telefon. Such dears!

30.10.1915
Sat with Volodia. Mitia was some time. Then Olga came. V. is so sweet. (…) After dinner I talked to Volodia and a little bit to Mitia.

16.11.
I sat with Volodia and Mitia. Then Olga came. From 12 hours I played the piano with Volodia. Sat together. It was very pleasant. (…) After dinner I talked to M.

From a letter to her father 16.11
Three days before… we had tea at Ania and 2 new wounded were invited. The erivanets Shakh-Bagov and your strelok of the 3rd Regiment Kiknadze and also the big Rita Hitrovo. We spent time very pleasant and comfortable.

18.11
Sat with Volodia. Very sweet. Mitia was with Olga near us. (…) I talked to V. this evening.

19.11
Then I sat with Volodia. Mitia was there. (…) I talked with Volodia.

21.12
Sat a little bit with Volodia. Sister Grekova made me an injection. Then I sat with dear Volodia and we made together a puzzle. It was very good. (…) We met Volodia and his sister Lika (Elizabeth). I was very happy to meet.

23.12
Sat with Volodia. (…) Volodia is terribly sweet. (…) At 8.45pm we went with Mama to the lazaret. I was with some of people. With Mitia, Rita. It was good, but very, very sad without dear Volodia.

24.12
Then I sat with Volodia. (…) So sad that I could not spend more time at the lazaret. (…) We went to the Vigils. Mitia was there. Had dinner with Papa and Mama. Talked with Mitia.

25.12
In the morning we all went to the church. Mitia and Volodia were there. I was very happy to see them. (…) At 6 o’clock pm we went to the lazaret. We gave all our presents. Then we all sat… I sat a little bit with Mitia. Then with Volodia. I was terribly happy. We had such a pleasant conversation.

From Olga’s diary
28.12
Malygin dear, his mother and sister are leaving to Eupatoria, Volodia too.

16.09.1916
Early this morning arrived Kiknadze with a wound on his back (spina).

Unfortunately the authors of “Sisters of mercy” did not provide any Tatiana’s diary entries for the short period Volodia was there. We meet him in Olga’s or Maria’s diaries. Here are some examples.

From Maria’s diary
30.09
The 4 of us were at the sister’s lazaret. I made a puzzle with Volodia.

From Olga’s diary
18.10
I sat with Mitia on the bed of the Montenegrian, and Tatiana on Pokrovsky’s bed with Volodia.

Tatiana’s diary
22.10.1916
I sat with Volodia in the corridor. Then we played with Volodia, Petrov and lieutenant Girs. (…) Then I said good buy to Volodia. It was so sad. He is leaving us with 8 others. They go to the Crimea.

It was probably the last time she saw him.

Thanks as always, Matushka, for sharing information with us re: this portion of the "big pair's" lives!

Thank you so much Matushka! I always thought it was only Dmitri Malama who have been involved romantically (if that's what it's called ) to Tatiana. Is there, by any chance, Kiknadze having a photo together with TN just like a couple of pictures of her with Malama? Hope to see more informations/diary entries. You did very well!

Thanks! More information will be soon! I am sure there are tones of pictures, but I was not yet abble to find who is Volodia on those photos I know. As for Malama, see the Tatiana and Malama's thread, you will see a picture of them together.

I risk a translation of Chebotareva's diary entries about our thema. If someone will have time to do better later, I will be grateful! Just as an introduction!

4.12.1915
What's for a drama had Olga Nikolaevna? Why is she so thin, so white? Loves Shakh-Bagov? Yes, a little bit, not it is not so serious. In general, the atmosphere is at the moment not very quite. As soon as she finishes her work, Tatiana Nikolaevna goes doing the injection and them they sit both with K. The last sit at the piano and, playing something with one finger, talks endless, a lot with our sweet girl. Varvara Afanassevna looks at it with horror and said that if Narishkina, madam Zizi, would see these scenes, she would certainly die. Shakh-Bagov has temperature, he is lying. Olga Nikolaevna sit all the time on his bed. The other pair came to them, they all sat on this bed yesterday and looked at albums. K. is doing his best. The sweet face of Tatiana Nikolaevna hide nothing, she is rose, exited. But it is not good, all these attouchements. I think it is horrible. The others are actually jealous and I can imagine what they say in the town. Vera Ignatevna will send K. to Eupatoria, thanks to God. Let us keep them far from sin. Vera Ignatevna said me she heard that Shakh-Bagov, when he was drunk show someone ON's letters. The poor children!
(...)
27.11 (...) at 9pm came ON and TN to clean the instruments. K. once more sat near Tatiana Nikolaevna on the stairs. The children were in a good mood, exited.
(...) The empress gave an order, K. can stay as a sanitar.
26.12
24 they succeeded in coming to us, with the secret idea to see K! We decided to send to Eupatoria the 18. He allowed himself some incredibles things, somewhere he talked about his victory. People make gossip, they see how he takes her endless far from the others, playing something on the piano and endless talking something in low voice with mysterious expression. Vera Ignatevna is totally angry.
22 on the evening both of them, Shakh-BAgov and K. were invited by Anna Alexandrovna, there was also the Empress. She decided that K. can stay until the end of the fests. They are today out, out of the lazaret. What will be?

15.02.1916
Tatiana Nikolaevna asked what related O. who just came back from Eupatoria.She evidently waited hearing something about K. "They all go for only 6 weeks", she asks. I heard that K. will be back those days.

5.03
The 3rd of March the Emperor came back to the army. They (ON and TN) came very early, and had to go to say good buy at 12 o'clock. The day before were, evidently, others plans. K. was sure that they will come back after the train. At 12.00 they phoned, called Rita, and then, of course, K. I was in road (...) and saw (...) K. On the left I heard the sound of their car and saw their pretty faces. I could not understand how did they could go out at that time. They had the permission to go to the cemetery. "We had such a desire to see K. , we came by car to the door of the lazaret and then went to the cemetery.

Thanks! More information will be soon! I am sure there are tones of pictures, but I was not yet abble to find who is Volodia on those photos I know. As for Malama, see the Tatiana and Malama's thread, you will see a picture of them together.

Two photos of Malama:

Here's a photo from the lazaret, labeled in Tatiana's writing. Perhaps it will give us some clues:


Unfortunately, I'm terrible at reading Tatiana's handwriting!

Sarushka, you are wonderful! I did not know this picture with Tatiana's handwritting and it is quite important for our question! I think I can see Kiknadze' name! The last line, the second one, if I do not make a mistake. The first name of all it Syroboyarski, this officier with whom they will have a correspondance even after the revolution. I will study the picture when I will have time! I am very greatful. I don't see Shakh-Bagov's name. Could that be a picture of autumn 1916?

No, that was my mistake. I could at the moment (but will work more) read the folowing names
1st line: Syroboyarsky and Pavlov (the fourth name)
2nd line:Pokrovsky, Vinogradov, bar. (baron) Taube
3rd line: Nikiforov (the one I took for Kiknadze without zoom )
The last line at the bottom is for me totally unreadable.
The picture is indeed of 1916, at that time Pavlov, Syroboyarsky and baron Taube were at the lazaret.
We will carry on!

Sarushka and Matushka, I applaud you both on your excellent collaboration and sleuthing! 

I wish I could do more! Matushka has transcribed so much information that I still haven't found time to translate. 

  Sarushka and Matushka,

  Che due brave traduttrici!

 Rodney

 

Recently having started writing about Tatiana Nikolaevna, I’ve actually been keen to know about the wounded soldiers Tatiana cared for as a nurse. It’s interesting that in Tatiana’s diary entries, when she mentions Volodia, she also always mentions Mitia (another wounded soldier whom Olga had fallen in love with). It seems that Tatiana and her elder sister Olga enjoyed making the acquaintance of the soldiers and spending time with them. What I am actually wondering, was Tatiana in love with Vladimir (who is also known as “Volodia”)? For some reason I get the impression that he was simply just a friend. Olga also seems to have been fond of him, too. I’ve always heard of Tatiana to be in love with Dmitri Malama during the war years and having adored the French bulldog he gave to her named Ortino.

I think she was more in love with Malama then with Vladimir...my opinion.

Perhaps. I think that perhaps she and her sister Olga were only just fond of Volodia. Valentina Chebotareva noted how the girls would make excuses just to come to the hospital and see him.

I'm only confused of what times Tatiana saw Dmitri Malama and when she saw Volodia.

I am currently writing about Tatiana, so I'm hoping to have all the information I need to write about her, that's all.