John asked a question on the previous post about 10th (Irish) Division’s Army Service Corps Divisional Train in which a relative may have served as a driver of mule transport, so I thought I would share this photograph from my collection. From the summer of 1916, it shows an ASC column stretched out over a Macedonian plain. These draught mule are pulling supply limbers which were more flexible than lumbering, general service wagons, but weren’t as useful in the hills and mountains of Macedonia as nimble pack mules.
Continue reading “For John …”Month: Aug 2023
Colombian Mules
No, I’m not straying off topic with a post about drug smuggling, this is genuinely about four-legged equines. Mules are a rare sight in the UK so I guess, for most of us, they are something from the past – maybe an animal that frustrated or amused our grandfathers (or great-grandfathers etc.) over one hundred years ago in Macedonia. However, because of their versatility they are still very much in use around the world, particularly in hilly or mountainous country.
Continue reading “Colombian Mules”Mind the mozzies!
With family members heading off to tropical climes, I was quick to share my ‘specialist knowledge’ of anti-mosquito precautions – based entirely on reading about the BSF – and shared this splendid photo with the travellers:
Lance Corporal Harrison, 12th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, wearing protective anti-mosquito clothing as issued to troops on night duty during the summer months. Photograph taken at Bowls Barrow, 2 June 1918. © IWM HU 82035
I’m not sure how impressed they were, but I thought it gave an excellent impression of the precautions to take. So I was especially pleased to see anti-mosquito face veils at a reasonable price in a well-known hiking and outdoors shop and promptly bought one for each member of the party. I have seen them in use, although this was in the UK and – I suspect – more to humour me than a serious indication of an intention to wear them in foreign parts.
Just think how chuffed members of the BSF would have been to have these – they even look great with a slouch hat …
(of course, in proper use the veil should be tucked in at the neck!)
Well, they are on their travels and I don’t like to ask if they’ve used them yet, but I will be looking out for traces of mosquito bites on their faces when they return!
If you are travelling this summer, I hope you manage to avoid mosquitoes and midges. If not, maybe you should invest in one of these veils as a practical tribute to the BSF!
Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 