With November fast approaching, I realise I’d better move fast if I want to mark Black History Month – although I would, of course, add something of interest at any time of the year!
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The New Mosquito #42 : September 2020
Members should have received this latest edition of The New Mosquito by now. Please contact the Society if you are expecting a copy, but haven’t received it.
Australians and New Zealanders on the Serbian Front
My thanks go to Australian author Bojan Pajic for sharing a link with us to a fascinating article on the Australian War Memorial website about Australians and New Zealanders who served on the Serbian Front.
Continue reading “Australians and New Zealanders on the Serbian Front”
Plant specimens collected on the Salonica Front
The New Mosquito of April 2015 (issue 31) contains a fascinating article by Dr James Wearn of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, entitled ‘Risking their lives to collect plants on the Salonika Front’. It is about the eight members of Kew Gardens’ staff who served in Salonika with the armed forces, but were able to collect plants as an extra-curricular activity.
Some while later I was contacted about this article by Emeritus Professor Arne Strid, distinguished Swedish botanist and expert on Greek flora, whose two-volume Atlas of the Aegean Flora was published in 2016. Professor Strid provided additional interesting information about plant collecting in the region and kindly allowed me reproduce this here.
Continue reading “Plant specimens collected on the Salonica Front”
Bang!
For me, one of the joys of owning a Smart TV is the ability to watch YouTube videos from the comfort of my armchair or even my exercise bike (yes, really!) rather than on my PC at my desk, especially as I am now watching longer videos, rather than just cats doing funny things. Continue reading “Bang!”
While I’m on the subject …
While I’m on the subject of YouTube videos, it would be remiss of me not to share this video by our very own Alan Wakefield on the Western Front Association channel:
Great War Hats … and Huts!
Back in May I added two posts which largely focused on the slouch hats worn by members of the BSF during the warmer weather of 1916. Whilst I don’t want to overdo military headgear – not everyone finds the subject as fascinating as I do – I want to draw your attention to a fascinating video on the subject. Being able to recognise the headwear of a First World War soldier can be useful in helping to date a photo of a soldier, even if their intrinsic interest is a mystery to you!
Salonika Zeppelin Compass for Sale!
Following on from my article about Bernard Green’s book on Zeppelins, I have received a message from Bernard to say that the compass from the Zeppelin (LZ85) that was shot down over Salonika by the Battleship HMS Agamemnon is to be sold. Continue reading “Salonika Zeppelin Compass for Sale!”
Salonika Campaign Society Battlefield Tour – September 2020
Sadly, the continuing uncertainty surrounding foreign travel, including the potential for sudden mandatory quarantine periods being imposed by the British Government at short notice on travellers returning to the UK, makes even the idea of running a Greece-only tour in September too complicated for the Society to contemplate. Therefore, it is with regret that I have to announce there will be no SCS battlefield tour this year. Instead, we plan to deliver the tour, with the itinerary already advertised, in September 2021.
Provisional dates for the tour are 19 – 27 September 2021
Continue reading “Salonika Campaign Society Battlefield Tour – September 2020”
Remembering the Indian Army on VJ Day
It was pointed out today that the one thing everyone remembers about the 14th Army is that it was ‘The Forgotten Army’! It is to be hoped that today’s VJ Day commemorations will get people beyond that fact, to recognise what an incredibly diverse force it was and that it was, by and large, an Indian Army that won victory in Burma. Continue reading “Remembering the Indian Army on VJ Day”
Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 