The Italians are here!

On Friday 11th August 1916, Italian troops landed in Salonika to bolster the allied effort. Fortunately for us, the event was captured on film. Not only do we see troops of the Italian 35th Division, but there are also other allied personnel and – best of all – we get to see central Salonika in its heyday, before the catastrophic fire that destroyed so much of the city just a year later. And there is much more besides. So, sit back and enjoy 36 minutes of fascinating vintage film footage.

If you want to know more about the Italian role in the campaign, be sure to attend the Society’s annual meeting on 1st October 2022, where Jake Gasson will be presenting a talk on the Italian experience of the Macedonian Front.

Note: the chaps in white/khaki sun helmets of the type seen in ‘Zulu’ are French; after the South African war, the British army changed to the broader brimmed, ‘Wolseley’ sun helmet. At this time in Salonika the BSF were also wearing slouch hats. Time to play: Spot the Brit!

To help you, here are the BSF highlights:

• 09:42 – two British officers
• 13:41 – I think that’s a Brit in a slouch hat in the foreground
• 19:32 – not the finest display of British drill, shame it was captured on film!
• 24:34 – these are definitely not ‘English drums’; certainly a French band, probably Colonial Infantry (seen on the march at 17:46)
• 25:35 – now these are definitely British troops, fresh off the boat – mounted troops in dismounted order, possibly yeomanry but perhaps Army Service Corps; don’t they look young? “Get your knees brown, lads!”
• 26:09 – if this is the camp of the soldiers we just saw at the docks, then the limbers suggest ASC

Other fascinating features – in addition to the Italian disembarkation and march past – are Russians celebrating mass, Bulgarian POWs kitted out by the French for service on the Western Front and French field ovens. It really is a super film.

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Featured image: ITALIAN FORCES IN THE SALONIKA CAMPAIGN 1915-1918 © IWM (Q 32261)