An interesting postcard this – purchased on eBay – in that it was taken in the UK but has a very clear Salonika connection. It is labelled: Wessex “Salonica” Draft. Dec 1916. Continue reading “Next Stop Salonika! Wessex Royal Engineers, December 1916”
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Remembering Corporal Sidney Robinson, KRRC, and comrades who died one hundred years ago
One hundred years ago today, Corporal Sidney Robinson and three riflemen from 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps were killed in a desperate struggle whilst on patrol near Neohori (now Amfipoli) at the southern end of the Struma Valley. Continue reading “Remembering Corporal Sidney Robinson, KRRC, and comrades who died one hundred years ago”
One hundred years ago: the formation of 16th Corps Cyclist Battalion
One hundred years ago this week, three divisional cyclist companies in the Struma Valley were merged to form the 16th Corps Cyclist Battalion (Army Cyclist Corps). Continue reading “One hundred years ago: the formation of 16th Corps Cyclist Battalion”
Faces of Salonika : French soldiers in The Birdcage
As the French were the senior partners in the Armées Alliées d’Orient, it seems appropriate to include a photo of French soldiers, early on in this series. Continue reading “Faces of Salonika : French soldiers in The Birdcage”
Faces of Salonika : the photographers
This is the first of, what I hope, will be a long-running series of posts presenting images of those who took part in or witnessed the Salonika Campaign from 1915-1918. Continue reading “Faces of Salonika : the photographers”
One hundred years on : two Salonika graves
On a visit to the Allied Cemetery in Thessaloniki in April 2016, I was struck by two graves from 1916, both non-battle casualties. I offer them here for Armistice Day. Continue reading “One hundred years on : two Salonika graves”
New book: ‘Daring All Things – The Autobiography of George Kendall (1881-1961)’
To be published on 15 November 2016 by Helion & Company, Daring All Things is a unique and extraordinary autobiography, published for the first time 55 years after its completion shortly before Rev. George Kendall died suddenly in 1961, aged 79. Continue reading “New book: ‘Daring All Things – The Autobiography of George Kendall (1881-1961)’”
Centenary of the first Salonika Victoria Cross
Northern Greece, 22/23 October 1916
In a … raid on the night of 22/23 October 1916, 300 men of the 11th Welsh raided an enemy strongpoint known as The Dorsale, near Machukovo. the Battalion had never been in action before and gave a very good account of itself, destroying a machine-gun emplacement and bringing back eighteen prisoners. During the raid, Pte Hubert [‘Stokey’] William Lewis was wounded three times but refused to retire from the enemy trenches. he went on to capture three Germans and during the withdrawal brought in the wounded 2/Lt Turner from No Man’s Land. For his bravery and devotion to duty, Lewis was awarded the first Victoria Cross of the Salonika Campaign.
From ‘Under the Devil’s Eye’ by Wakefield & Moody (Sutton Publishing, 2004 p132). Continue reading “Centenary of the first Salonika Victoria Cross”
The New Mosquito : the Society’s Journal
There are many benefits to membership of the Salonika Campaign Society – you can find them listed here – but an especially valuable, tangible one is our journal which is produced twice a year, in April and September. The New Mosquito started life in April 2000 as a photocopied newsletter of just nine pages; now it is a glossy, professionally printed journal of at least 28 pages – the Struma Special was an impressive 38 – and when appropriate (and funds permit) it includes colour pictures! Continue reading “The New Mosquito : the Society’s Journal”
Meet the author of ‘The Birdcage’
Monday 31 October 2016 at 5.30pm
Journalist and writer Clive Aslet, whose novel The Birdcage was published in June, will be speaking at the Canterbury Festival on Monday, 31 October 2016 at 5.30pm. Continue reading “Meet the author of ‘The Birdcage’”
Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 