Happy Year of the Snake!

As today sees the start of the Lunar New Year, I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a happy Year of the Snake. A brief online search suggests that snakes symbolise good luck and rebirth, the pursuit of love and happiness, and wealth and wisdom; so reasons for optimism in 2025! If you were born in a Year of the Snake, heading east is said to be auspicious, so perhaps you should sign-up for a Salonika battlefield tour with the SCS. It’s almost certainly a good idea, even if you were born under another animal!

I don’t suppose many members of the BSF found their arrival in Salonika especially auspicious, even if they were aware that they had been born in a Year of the Snake. Although attractive from the sea, Salonika failed to impress and life ‘up country’ contained many hazards and inconveniences. Not least amongst these, was the exotic fauna just waiting to climb into an empty boot or join a sleeping soldier under his blanket, as shown in this drawing from the campaign, reproduced in The Mosquito.

There is no doubting that snakes are fascinating creatures but, in my personal opinion, they are best viewed on a TV with a soothing narration by David Attenborough. So it’s just as well that my personal interactions with snakes have been very few. Actually, as someone born in the Year of the Rat, I should be careful about criticising other animals. Anyway, my most startling and unexpected meeting with snakes was whilst walking by the side of Lake Doiran when I saw these beautiful little chaps … although I wouldn’t want to share a tent with them!

Whatever your opinion of them, I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Snake!