Famous life · 12.02.1884
Vardja, where Laidoner was born
Johan Laidoner, the commander-in-chief of the War of Independence, was born on 12 February 1884 at Raba farm in Vardja, in the Viiratsi parish of Viljandimaa. He was the first child of Jaak Laidoner and Mari Saarsen, the daughter of the farm. His brothers Villem, Peeter and Oskar were born on the same farm. After a failed first attempt to join the army, young Johan moved to Aljutino manor near St Petersburg, where his uncle was the manager. His life ended far from Raba. Deported with his wife in July 1940 and later arrested, he died on 13 March 1953 in Vladimir Central Prison, where he was known only as prisoner number 11. The pin marks Vardja village approximately.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
Vabadussõja ülemjuhataja Johan Laidoner sündis 12. veebruaril 1884 Viljandimaal Viiratsi vallas Vardjal Raba talus. Ta oli Jaak Laidoneri ja Raba talu peretütre Mari Saarseni esimene laps. Samas talus sündisid ka tema vennad Villem, Peeter ja Oskar. Pärast ebaõnnestunud katset sõjaväkke pääseda asus noor Johan elama Peterburi kubermangus Aljutino mõisa, kus tema onu oli mõisavalitseja. Tema elu lõppes Rabast kaugel. 1940. aasta juulis koos abikaasaga küüditatud ja hiljem arreteeritud Laidoner suri 13. märtsil 1953 Vladimiri keskvanglas, kus teda tunti vaid kinnipeetava numbri 11 all. Kaardinõel märgib Vardja küla ligikaudselt.