Remembered at the Tower

The tower most associated with the Salonika campaign is Thessaloniki’s iconic White Tower but, on a recent trip to London, I discovered connections with the campaign at another iconic landmark – The Tower of London. During a visit we took a look in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula which, not surprisingly, remembers significant figures at the Tower over the centuries.

There, on the wall remembering Tower Constables, was a plaque to our very own ‘Uncle George’, who served as Constable of the Tower (1933-38) having previously been Lieutenant of the Tower (1920-23).

The plaque remembering Field-Marshal Sir George Francis, Baron Milne of Salonika & Rubislaw, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.L., LL.D., K.G.Dt.J. (photo by Robin Braysher).

But that wasn’t all! On the other side of the chapel is a plaque to one of the BSF’s two Victoria Cross winners – Lieutenant Colonel Dan Burges – who served at the Tower as Resident Governor and Major during the years between ‘Uncle George’s’ two stints, from 1923 to 1933.

The plaque remembering Lt Col. Burges, V.C., D.S.O. of the Gloucestershire Regiment who won his Victoria Cross on 18 September 1918 during the Second Battle of Doiran whilst commanding 7th (Service) Battalion of the South Wales Borderers (photo by Robin Braysher who was ‘slightly on the huh’ when he took the photo – the plaque is perfectly level!).

Whilst at the Tower we also took the opportunity to visit the small but fascinating museum of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. Sadly I could see no mention of the service of 3rd Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) with the BSF in Macedonia.

Troops of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, 85th Brigade, 28th Division manning a trench near Bairakli Jum’a, May 1917. © IWM Q 32896