Although women who had served in Salonika – in whatever capacity – were eligible to join the SRA from the very start, they didn’t gain their own specific section in The Mosquito until September 1931 (issue 15), with Eileen Moore’s ‘Woman’s Page’. Later, this was expanded to ‘Women’s Pages’ and continued for the rest of The Mosquito’s long existence. So it was only right and proper that the final issue in May 1969 – a longer, glossier souvenir album, entitled Salonika Memories 1915-1919 – included it’s own ‘Women’s Pages’. By now this was edited by Miss N. M. Simcox. In her final editorial, she had this to say:
Continue reading “Soles of boots were tied on with rags”Category: Salonika Reunion Association
Handbags At Dawn!
Continue reading “Handbags At Dawn!”“What did you do in the Great War, Daddy?”
“Well, when I wasn’t fighting Johnny Bulgar I dressed up as a lady … it was a tough job, but someone ‘ad to do it!”
The SRA at Mavroplayia
Salonika Reunion Association Centenary 1924-2024
A highlight of the SCS Battlefield Tour of 2023 was a visit to the village of Mavroplayia. The village, named Karamudli back in the BSF’s day, was adopted by veterans of the Salonika Reunion Association between 1951 and 1968 under the Greek Red Cross Village Adoption Scheme. This is commemorated by a plaque now housed in the village heritage centre.
The plaque reads:
1915 Mavroplayia 1968
British soldiers defended this village in the 1914-1918 war. The British survivors later became known as the Salonika Reunion Association and hearing, in 1950, that the village had met with adversity they sent relief from Great Britain to its fondly remembered peoples.
Mavroplayia became a place of pilgrimage for many British ex-soldiers and nurses who had known it in their youth. Friendship with its fine peoples became closer and the help continued until 1968 when the Salonika Reunion Association had to close down.
Its members to the end were proud that, in their time, the ancient friendship between Greek and Briton stood staunch for over 50 years.
During this bond of 16 years, the SRA sent tools, sewing machines, clothing, toys and much else to the village, which had suffered greatly during the Second World War and Greek Civil War. British veterans also funded repairs to the roofs of the church and school and the supply of piped water to the village.
Soon after the tour’s arrival, a deputation from the village, including the local priest, arrived and the SCS tour party was shown the interior of the church and the old school building, the latter now the containing photographs and objects, including the SRA plaque. The group was then shown a fountain, built in 1916 by French troops, which served as the village water source prior to the arrival of the SRA’s sponsored piped water system. The afternoon concluded with drinks and much conversation and singing with the tour group contributing to the funds for running the heritage centre.
Through its visit the SCS tour had reestablished a small link between Britain and Greece, one forged by the generous spirit of British Salonika Force veterans whose aim, well fulfilled, was to do something tangible to help the Greek people following a second global conflict and bitter civil war. The SCS will maintain this link going forward and aims to return during the 2024 battlefield tour with a commemorative gift for the village in the form of a Salonika Reunion Association standard for display in the heritage centre.
Field of Remembrance – Westminster Abbey
On the morning of Thursday 8 November, SCS Chair, Alan Wakefield, represented the Society at the Opening of the 95th Field of Remembrance outside Westminster Abbey. SCS members Jonathan Saunders and Darren Rolfe were also in attendance. The Field is organised by the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Factory and the SCS is very lucky to have its plot in a prime location opposite the west door of St Margaret’s Church, which stands alongside the Abbey. This year the Field was opened by Her Majesty Queen Camilla who is Patron of the Poppy Factory.
A Date With Destiny …
Whilst looking through ‘The Mosquito’ – an excellent resource and good value, too! – I came across a recipe for a date and walnut cake from June 1939 (No. 46, page 49). I’m no baker, but I do like pottering in the kitchen. Admittedly it’s mainly to listen to history podcasts, but I can turn out a reasonable tea loaf, so thought this would be within my capabilities. The opportunity came when we were given a bag of fresh walnuts so, with just some stoned dates to buy, I was off!
I know the recipe says ‘Walnut and Date Cake’ but I think ‘Date and Walnut’ trips off the tongue more readily!
Ingredients
- 1 lb stoned dates;
- 2 ozs walnuts – I put in 3 ozs as I had them and 2 ozs didn’t look much next to a pound of dates!
- 2 teacups of boiling water (bare measure) – I have no idea what this means but two measures of one of our posh teacups did the trick!
- 1½ teacups of sugar – I don’t have a very sweet tooth and given that a pound of dates is rather sweet I put in a little under a teacup of Demerara, which was fine;
- 4 teacups of plain flour – I ended up shaking in a bit more because the mixture looked rather gloopy!
- 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda;
- 2 beaten eggs;
- ½ teaspoon of salt.
Method
- Chop dates and walnuts – I went quite small; this was the most tedious part of the operation but, with a good podcast to listen to, the job was soon done;
- place the dates and walnuts in a bowl and add salt, bicarbonate of soda, then boiling water;
- allow to stand for two minutes;
- add sugar, flour and the beaten eggs – stirring thoroughly;
- ‘Will make two cakes or loaves’ – not very precise guidance from the recipe so I got out a selection of baking tins and guessed how far the mixture would go – greasing them with butter and lining with greaseproof paper before pouring in the mixture; these are the sizes I ended up with …
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred!
- ‘Bake in moderate oven for 1 to 1½ hours’ – our fan oven did them in about 45 minutes at 180℃; I checked they were done by poking with a skewer to see if there was any uncooked mixture lurking (thanks for the tip, Mrs B!).
I have to say they were a great success and there is very little left after a week. I shall definitely be making this again.
So, thanks to the Salonika Reunion Association and, especially, Aileen H. Moore (late of QAIMNS (R)) for a super little recipe shared in the ‘Women’s Pages’ of ‘The Mosquito’ over 70 years ago!
Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 