Last year I shared with you some super videos from the YouTube channel, Great War Huts, presented by SCS member Taff Gillingham. I hope many of you subscribed but even if you did maybe, like me, you haven’t kept up with their offerings.
Blog
We wish you a Happy Year of the Ox!
Chinese New Year seems an auspicious time to launch the latest iteration of the Society’s website. No major changes of design this time – and still with the familiar WordPress – just a change of hosting arrangements which will save the Society money and should be easier to manage. Please bear with us as we get used to the new setup.
This is a good time to introduce Andy Hutt who has joined the SCS Committee team and will take over the role of Web Editor from Robin in October. Andy and Robin will work together on the website until then. The Committee is grateful to Andy for stepping forward.
Oxen are often seen as slow and dull-witted, but in Chinese culture they are honest and earnest, low key and never look for praise or to be the centre of attention. This often hides their talent, but they’ll gain recognition through their hard work. This sums up so much of the work that goes on throughout the Society, as members in various parts of the world ensure that the Salonika campaign and those who endured it – especially those who did not return home – are not forgotten.
Here’s a hardworking and patient Macedonian ox, from a German postcard.
Cecil Deadman: a motor transport driver in Salonika
My thanks go to Rosemary Newton, granddaughter of Cecil Deadman who served in Salonika with the Army Service Corps. 175347 Private Deadman was in 706 MT Company, ASC, which was part of the supply column attached to the Serbian army.
Rosemary has published a book of her family history (1880-1950), which includes an account of Private Deadman’s time in Salonika. She has kindly made this part of her book available to us and you can see it online here. This fascinating article is copiously illustrated with original photos, postcards and documents. Amazingly, he was one of the three brothers serving with the BSF – and they had the opportunity to meet up!
Find out more
A virtual battlefield tour – but not in Salonika!
My thanks go to James Stewart-Smith of Classic Battlefield Tours for sharing details of this forthcoming virtual battlefield tour by well known military historian, Patrick Mercer OBE. It is nothing whatsoever to do with Salonika, but during these days of seemingly endless lockdown, the chance to get out on any sort of virtual tour is very welcome.
Continue reading “A virtual battlefield tour – but not in Salonika!”
A DSO from Salonika, July 1918
My thanks go to Lucy London (again!) for bringing to my attention this fascinating set of medals which was offered for sale by Dix Noonan and Webb Ltd of Mayfair in July 2019.
“The Sky-Sent Death” by Walter J. R. Turner
My thanks go to SCS member Lucy London for sharing this poem by Walter J. R. Turner (1889–1946), an Australian-born writer, critic and musician who lived in England. The poem is from “The Dark Wind” by W. J. R. Turner (E.P. Button & Co., New York,1920), which is available to view as a free download on Archive.
Continue reading ““The Sky-Sent Death” by Walter J. R. Turner”
Christmas in Salonika
SCS Chair, Alan Wakefield, has provided two contrasting accounts of Christmas 1915 from the BSF, showing the differences between being ‘up country’ and at the Base.
It’s Panto Time!
Pantomimes were by no means unique to the British Salonika Force but – with a lack of home leave and limited sources of entertainment, especially ‘up country’ – they seem to have been a notable feature of the campaign.
A Salonika Campaign Bibliography – a valuable resource
The Society is pleased to announce that a comprehensive bibliography for the Salonika campaign is now available on our website. You can find out more and access the bibliography online here …
Lieut. Harman Shanley, late 5th Connaught Rangers – an update
Nearly two years ago I published a post about an intriguing set of medals for sale on eBay, that had belonged to Lieut. Shanley of 5/Connaught Rangers. In addition to ‘Pip, Squeak and Wilfred’, there were also US and French Second World War medals. What was especially interesting for me, was that the British War Medal had a long list of unofficial bars, from the Battle of Kosturino onwards.
Continue reading “Lieut. Harman Shanley, late 5th Connaught Rangers – an update”
