This monument to Johan Pitka consists of a bust of Admiral Pitka, a black granite pedistal, and is flanked on both side with large stainless steel panels, designed in the shape of a hull of a ship. The bust is several times larger than a human head. It is only from the neck up, but atop his head is a Naval Officers hat, with an anchor type symbol on the front. He is wearing a mustache and a goatee beard, which are not connected. The plinth is a retangular column made of black granite, that is twisted such that the corner faces forward. The large stainless steel panels are angled towards the sculpture of Pitka and have what appear to be large rivets on the edges of the panels. It is positioned so that the monument is facing east.
Engraved in the granite base is the following:
Kontradmiral
Johan
Pitka
1872-1944
Engraved on a stainless steel panel is the following:
Kaitseliidu,
soomusrongide,
mereväe ja
piirivalve looja
Eesti Vabadussõjas,
riigitegelane ning
vabadusvõitleja.
In English, it states:
Defence League,
armored trains,
the Navy and the
creator of the border guard
Estonian War of Independence,
statesman and
freedom fighter..
"Johan Pitka was born in 1872 in Ansomard's farm in a hamlet of Jalgsema in Võhmuta Parish, Järvamaa. In his youth, the sea became his passion. He attended three naval schools: in Käsmu, Kuressaare and finally in Paldiski, where he obtained his sea captain's papers. Henceforth he commenced with his long distance voyages, which ranged as far as South-America. He was a captain, a businessman, then a soldier and also a farmer.
With The War of Independence Johan Pitka's organizing activities started with directing Estonian men from Russia to homeland. Bolshevists, after having understood his actions, sentenced him to death behind his back in 1918. Pitka shaved his beard and hair and lived under the pseudonym of Jaan Mets. After the departure of the Germans from Estonia in 1918, Pitka founded the Defense Union of Estonia, organized armored trains and a naval force. On 15 December he became the foreman of the Estonian navy. The naval ranks follow soon after - captain on 22 April, then vice-admiral which, according to the international convention stands for rear admiral. By the common people he was simply called an admiral. The navy and the armored trains organized by him played a role in The Civil War which is difficult to overestimate.
An adventurous life followed The War of Independence, where he was active in politics, then again a farmer in Canada, then - having returned to his homeland - the director of Central Federation of Estonian Consumers' Association.
On 22 April, 1944 he arrived in Estonia via Finland. The final organizing work had begun in order to protect homeland from the red barbarians. Radio speeches were a means of appeal to the masses. In the Summer of 1944 Pitka arranged an assault against Bolshevism. Pitka emphasized that regardless of his age - 72 years, still - he was capable of carrying a gun and would personally join the line of fighters. The staff of German front corps of Narva gave Pitka permission to form a troop operating under his personal command. That troop was brought into being in short order.
On September 21, a day before the red invasion into Tallinn, Pitka made his famous statement petitioning men to join "Admiral Pitka's Storm Troopers." Subsequently, a number of young Estonian men joined him. Pitka's men fought in several battles, the most well-known in Vaidla by the bridge of Soodla, then in Kehra, Rapla, Tallinn, Nõmme. The most considerable battle, however, was held on Keila.
The last clash followed in Läänemaa where Pitka's footsteps vanished. It is assumed that he was a casualty of this battle." SOURCE
Nauticapedia provides a more lengthy discussion of the life of Johan Pitka.