Larsmo

Grafton Affair

Larsmo played an interesting role in the Finnish independence-movement.  During the dark night of December 6, 1905 the steamer ship S/S John Grafton, with its name concealed, sailed into the Larsmo archipelago with a cargo of weapons.  The cargo was unloaded at Kemi and transported away in small boats to the mainland with the help of the local population.  Weapons were meant to be used for the independence movement in Finland and revolutionary attempts in Russia.  The ship ran aground as it was heading out to sea.  The crew decided to blow it up before the Russian guard would find out about it.  The ship was blown up December 8 at 4 pm.  The crew fled to Sweden in smaller sailing vessels.

News about the mystical ship spread around the world, and was mentioned in The London Times, Deutsche Tageblatt and the British, Daily Mail. This incident is often counted as the first attempt for a free Finland and to obtain independence from Russia.  A monument in memory of the John Grafton incident is erected on the island of Orrskär. ^{3, 5}

The S/S Equity, another ship, loaded with weapons, also unloaded its cargo in the Larsmo archipelago, and a memorial plate is now in place at Tolvmangrundet Island. ⁵