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Special exhibition on November 12th at the Hellenic Residence

To mark Remembrance Day, the Embassy of Greece in London is hosting a special (free) exhibition on November 12th at the Hellenic Residence, 51 Upper Brook Street, London .

“There, among the rotted sandbags, a flower had grown…” is an exhibition to remember those who served in Greece during WWI. It is also a tribute to the enduring friendship and long-standing alliance between Greece and the UK.

The exhibition will present a compelling narrative of the shared histories and sacrifice between Greek, British and Commonwealth personnel in WWI Greece. The exhibition takes its title from a line in “Life in the Tomb” by Stratis Myrivilis -a landmark war novel, and by far the most famous work written in Greece on the First World War.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore an array of artifacts and objects, some never seen before in the UK such as parts from the wreckage of Zeppelin LZ.85 which was shot down over Thessaloniki by the British battleship HMS Agamemnon on 5 May 1916.

Other artefacts on display include:

  • Personal items and military paraphernalia from British troops stationed in Greece during WWI shedding light into everyday life and daily routines at the war front, but also speaking of the resilience and spirit of those who served.
  • Photographs and Maps: Visual documentation that captures the landscapes and faces of the era.
  • Medals and Decorations: Honours awarded to servicemen who fought at the Macedonian Front during WWI.

Visiting hours and Additional Information

The exhibition will be open to the public with free admission on November 12th from 12pm.-3pm. and from 5pm.-8pm., with guided tours available to provide further context and insight into the displayed items. Slots are bookable on the hour. Last entry is at 7.30 p.m. Click here for details and tickets.

The Navy was There!

For understandable reasons we tend to focus on the British Salonika Army but, on this Trafalgar Day, we should remember the important part the Royal Navy played in the campaign. In the very last issue of the Salonika Reunion Association’s publication – The Mosquito (May 1969) – there is a fine tribute from the Pongos of the BSF to the Senior Service. Here are some extracts.

Continue reading “The Navy was There!”

Remembering the BSF

As is customary on the first Saturday after the anniversary of the Bulgarian armistice (30 September 1918), SCS members and friends gathered at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Saturday 5 October to lay a wreath and remember the dead of the British Salonika Force.

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Once Through The Alphabet

Whilst the BSF did not produce a poet of the stature of Wilfred Owen, it did have Rifleman T. B. Clark of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps whose poetry was published in a small volume – Rhymes of A Rifleman – by William Nicholson & Sons Ltd of London. Whilst this has not been perpetuated through exam syllabuses, from it we get an interesting view of the campaign from a thoughtful, pre-war private soldier. So, for National Poetry Day, here is Rifleman Clark’s poem, Once Through The Alphabet – Tommy’s Version, composed in the trenches in Macedonia, October 1917.

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Battling ‘General Malaria’ on the Macedonian front, 1915–1919

I’m grateful to SCS member Nick Palmer for bringing this online article (Battling ‘General Malaria’ on the Macedonian front, 1915–1919) to my attention. It’s a very recent publication from Dr Laura Robson-Mainwaring at the National Archives.

The article takes a look at some of the medical case sheets from the 28th General Hospital, Salonika to reveal the impact of malaria and the efforts to counteract it; from quinine and mosquito nets, to importing fish to eat mosquito larvae!

The impact of the disease is considered at the macro level – and, poignantly, at the individual level through the sad record of Isaac Jones of the South Wales Borderers who caught malaria in May 1918 with recurring attacks over the next few months before his death on 14 September 1918.

Isaac Jones’ medical case sheet. Catalogue reference: MH 106/2381/22 (image from the NA)

Remembering…

It is a very appropriate day and time (this is posted at noon), to be thinking about the contribution and ordeal of those working and fighting in Salonika – as it was at midday on this day, 106 years ago, that the Armistice of Salonica came into force, having been signed the day before.

Terms of armistice with Bulgaria. Catalogue reference ADM 116/1931 (From National Archives)

V5 Bibliography released

Listing 430 titles, Version 5 of the Salonika Campaign bibliography is now published and freely available here. As in the past, the bibliography has been compiled for the Salonika Campaign Society by SCS member Keith Roberts.

If you haven’t taken a look at the bibliography in the past, why not do so now? Keith helpfully lists links to texts that can be viewed online. For example, one item listed is Salonika Again, which Keith describes as an “interesting pamphlet telling of a return visit paid by two veterans of the campaign, and their visits to a school funded by the SCS and a village adopted by them. According to the Mosquito, the two veterans were Billy Reeves and G E Willis.”

Our thanks to Keith for his continued patience and persistence in this Herculean task.

Salonika Study Day – A Resounding Success!

Both new and old visitors to Great War Huts enjoyed an inspirational day of presentations, chat and site tours on Saturday 31 August. The venue, at Brook Farm Camp, Bury St Edmunds is a unique site in which to learn about the personal, military and social history of the First World War – and it was ideal for a study day focusing on the Salonika Campaign.

Ably chaired by SCS member, Keith Roberts, the day began with a welcome from military historian and Great War Huts founder, Taff Gillingham. SCS Chair, Alan Wakefield then spoke of ‘The British Way in Warfare – How the BSF Conducted Military Operations in Macedonia 1915-1918’. Alan focused on different geographical areas in Salonika and how the British army adapted to the terrain of each area, whether in the Struma valley or on the Dorain front.

Second speaker of the day was Colonel Nick Ilić MBE QGM on ‘The British who defended Serbia during the Great War 1915-18 – The story of Admiral Ernest Troubridge and the wider British contribution to the Second Serbian Campaign through to the end of the War’. I had no previous knowledge of who Troubridge was or his role in the campaign but Nick’s fascinating presentation brought to life Troubridge’s enormous contribution in a story that we shall surely return to on this site.

Lunch, provided as part of the day, gave visitors the opportunity to view exhibitions, to tour the site and appreciate the truly ground-breaking nature of the Great War Huts project.

Trench reconstruction at Brook Farm Camp. Image source Great War Huts

Refreshed, we returned to hear Taff Gillingham’s engaging and expert talk on ‘Uniforms and Equipment of the British Salonika Force’. Taff based his session on photographs from the time, pointing out features of uniform and illustrating these with real items of clothing to highlight the practical uses and implications for the men of the campaign.



Wendy Moore then gave us a moving and uplifting talk: ‘With the Scottish Women’s Hospitals in Serbia, Russia and Romania: the story of Vera ‘Jack’ Holme and Evelina Haverfield in love and at war’. This provided a shift in focus from the campaign and the activities of men, to the contribution of women in the Scottish Women’s Hospitals and, in particular, the personal lives of the remarkable Jack and Eve.

There was time for some scrumptiouus cake and tea before the final presentation of the day from none other than fellow author of these blog posts, Robin Braysher. Inspired by his grandfather Fred Braysher’s service, Robin gave a fascinating talk: ‘On Patrol with the Pneumatic Cavalry: innovation and adaptability in the Army Cyclist Corps in northern Greece, 1915-18.’ Who knew that a Lewis Gun could be carried on a bicycle, ready for instant use through its quick release clips!


The day concluded with a Q&A session, chaired by Keith, where all the speakers of the day faced questions from the audience. My key memory of this was an impassioned answer from Taff Gillingham on what had inspired his interest in the Great War. I only wish that I had recorded it as my notes and memory can in no way do justice to his reponse!

This was a truly special day and a great collaboration between the Society and Great War Huts. My personal thanks go to all those organising, speaking and contributing to the success of the day – not least to the GWH hospitality heroes Jane and Alan for delicious lunches, cakes and refreshments, and to GWH volunteer Mark for guiding us through the trenches at lunchtime.

Links

South Asian troops in the BSF

South Asian Heritage Month seems as good a time as any to consider the, often overlooked, South Asian contribution to the Macedonian campaign. Indeed, had the campaign continued into 1919, this contribution would have been even greater as plans were well underway to “Indianize” the BSF as had already happened in Palestine, but on an even greater scale.

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“The League of Death” and the BSF

On this, the 110th anniversary of the Britain’s entry into the Great War, it seems appropriate to look at a connection between the British Salonika Force and the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in Sarajevo. This is to be found in issue 45 of The Mosquito – ‘The Official Journal of the Salonika Re-Union Association’ – published in March 1939, not very long before Britain’s entry into the next world war!

Continue reading ““The League of Death” and the BSF”