In 2000, Vladimir Zimin, Philip Zimin’s grandson, brought to the Anzhero-Sudzhensk Museum of Local History letters and photos of his grandfather, which he had kept for many years. He told the story of his family.
At the end of the 19th century, Zimin and Yegorov families moved from the Penza Governorate to the village of Ulanovka, not far from Anzhero-Sudzhensk. At that time, Vera Yegorova was two years old, and her future husband, Philip Zimin, was a little older. They grew up, got married, and had two sons.
In 1914, when World War I began, all men of conscription age were called up for military service, including Zimin and his friends: Dmitry Prilutsky and Stepan. They served in the first battalion of the 28th Siberian Rifle Regiment.
Vera Yegorova stayed at home; she was expecting her third child. Philip Zimin sent his wife a letter from the battlefront asking her to name their son Alexander.
One of the letters, today housed in the museum, is dated February 10, 1915. It is written in pencil on a special form. In the first lines, Philip Zimin sent heartfelt greetings to his parents, brothers, sisters and their families. He wrote: “I wish you my sincere greetings and wish you good health from God” and added at the end of the letter: “I also send my beloved children my distant parental blessings, which they always need.”
The next news from the father of the family came on March 15, 1915: Philip Zimin shared his worries about his health: his heart was aching; he also asked not to sell the horse.
A month later, on April 18, Zimin’s parents and wife received a letter from his friend Dmitry Prilutsky with the news of the death of their son and her husband:
At the end of the 19th century, Zimin and Yegorov families moved from the Penza Governorate to the village of Ulanovka, not far from Anzhero-Sudzhensk. At that time, Vera Yegorova was two years old, and her future husband, Philip Zimin, was a little older. They grew up, got married, and had two sons.
In 1914, when World War I began, all men of conscription age were called up for military service, including Zimin and his friends: Dmitry Prilutsky and Stepan. They served in the first battalion of the 28th Siberian Rifle Regiment.
Vera Yegorova stayed at home; she was expecting her third child. Philip Zimin sent his wife a letter from the battlefront asking her to name their son Alexander.
One of the letters, today housed in the museum, is dated February 10, 1915. It is written in pencil on a special form. In the first lines, Philip Zimin sent heartfelt greetings to his parents, brothers, sisters and their families. He wrote: “I wish you my sincere greetings and wish you good health from God” and added at the end of the letter: “I also send my beloved children my distant parental blessings, which they always need.”
The next news from the father of the family came on March 15, 1915: Philip Zimin shared his worries about his health: his heart was aching; he also asked not to sell the horse.
A month later, on April 18, Zimin’s parents and wife received a letter from his friend Dmitry Prilutsky with the news of the death of their son and her husband:
