Category: Salonika Stories

Stories from or about the Macedonian campaign, 1915-1918.

Kossovo Day – 1916

110 years ago today, on 28 June 1916, something quite unusual happened in Britain… across the country people marked Kossovo Day, a Serbian national day to remember the 1389 Battle of Kossovo, when the Serbs fought the Ottoman Empire. Apparently, although the battle didn’t have a clear winner, it became over the years a symbol of Serbian resistance and hope for freedom.

So where is the British connection? Well, during World War I, Serbia was seen by many in Britain as a plucky underdog that had stood up to the mighty Austrian-Hungarian empire and, in doing so, endured a good deal of suffering. Many British doctors, nurses, and volunteers had gone to Serbia to help, and returned deeply moved by the people and their story.

With Serbia under occupation and many of its citizens in exile, a group of British and Serbian supporters, led by Dr. Elsie Inglis, decided to organise a Kossovo Day in Britain, with the aim of raising awareness about Serbia’s struggle.

1916 Kosspvp Day Poster
Image Source: Historical Archives of Belgrade, https://x.com/IA_Beograda

The day was marked in all sorts of ways. Schools read a special pamphlet about Serbia’s past and present. Public talks were held by people who had worked in Serbia during the war. Theatres and cinemas showed films about Serbia, and newspapers helped spread the word. One of the biggest events was a service at St Paul’s Cathedral, where the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke about how much Britain had come to admire Serbia. The Serbian national anthem was sung all over the country, from churches to schools.

The Manchester Guardian said of it, “In all the strange developments of wartime there can hardly be anything of such curious significance as Kossovo Day as it is being kept this year. That in London and Manchester and other English cities people should meet and demonstrate in memory of a battle which occurred in The Balkans 527 years ago – here surely is an extraordinary thing”.

Source:

A fuller account of Kossovo Day 1916 by Jenny Blake, on which this post is based, can be read here.

A Teapot in Langaza

Today, 21st May, is International Tea Day.

Author: Rob Elliott

By the start of World War 1, tea was firmly entrenched as Britain’s national drink.  Consumption had increased from about 1.4 pounds per person in the 1850s to about 6.5 pounds during the war and almost 9 pounds during the 1920s. At the outbreak of the war about 90 per cent of tea drunk in the UK was imported from British owned plantations in India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).  The UK had become the world’s largest consumer of tea, with the market controlled by tea auctions at Mincing Lane, London. Imported teas would be transported in lead-lined chests marked with the tea’s origin and stored in bonded warehouses until they were inspected, and subsequently blended to satisfy the taste of consumers in the UK. While supplied in bulk to the armed forces, popular suppliers for the civilian market included Liptons, Ridgways and the Mazawattee Tea Company.

The importance of tea to British troops was recognised long before World War 1. There are numerous accounts and photographs or groups of Tommies sitting around a dixie, brewing up.

British officers and men enjoy a cup of tea in their trench, 1918 Photograph by Bayley Harrison, World War One, Western Front (1914-1918), 1918. A mug of hot tea was no doubt welcome during the cold and wet winter months on the Western Front. The presence of an empty rum jar nearby suggests that these soldiers added something stronger to their tea. Army regulations ordered that the rum ration was to be drunk in the presence of an officer or non-commissioned officer so it could not be hoarded. From a collection of 23 official photographs by press photographer Bayley Harrison. NAM Accession Number NAM. 2004-09-3-16 Copyright/Ownership National Army Museum, Out of Copyright Location National Army Museum, Study collection Object URL https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2004-09-3-16
British officers and men enjoy a cup of tea in their trench, 1918
Photograph by Bayley Harrison, World War One, Western Front (1914-1918), 1918.
National Army Museum, Study collection https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail.php?acc=2004-09-3-16

We have tales of soldiers using the cooling water from Lewis Guns to brew tea once it has boiled around the gun barrel. Tea kettles were installed in tanks to ensure crews always had a ready supply. There are several accounts which point out that it often tasted of petrol since it was brewed in petrol cans not properly cleaned before use.

The social importance of tea was also reflected in a postcard featured on the front cover of the New Mosquito in April, 2023.

And, as we reported a couple of years ago, even donkeys enjoyed the occasional cuppa!

Image: IWM (Q 31579)

At least soldiers were able to get a ready supply, despite tea having no nutritional value. Half an ounce of tea was included in a soldier’s daily ration. But on the home front, by 1916 the cost of tea had risen to the point where price controls were introduced. Tea was subsequently rationed in 1918. Despite this, the Government recognised the value of tea for both soldiers and civilians and according to at least one source, it was protected as a weapon of war.

The importance of tea and tea-time can be measured by the frequency with which tea is mentioned in the literature. For example, the word “tea” appears almost 400 times in the pages of The Mosquito and at least 50 times in The New Mosquito. Many books, especially memoirs, are littered with references that clearly show the important the armed forces placed on tea being available at “tea time”, or any other time they could get it. My favourite reference, though, is found in the pages of H. Collinson Owen’s excellent book, “Salonika and After, The Sideshow That Won the War”. (Hodder and Stoughton, 1919, p. 64-5). He writes:

“One day we went for a long ride to Langaza and back, and I thought, as we thudded at full gallop across the plain, of crowded and smelly Salonika, wih its eternal noise and discomfort.  Here, in the pure air of Spring, with not a soul in sight, it was like being uncaged and given wings. Langaza is a big Turkish village, about two miles from the large lake of the same name and set in a broad and fertile valley. The Army had just started a big potato farm there. We found the officer in charge of it away, but had an excellent tea in his rooms, an old Turkish house, all the same.  How little we English change wherever we are. It was a splendid burst of freedom, but for me the whole glorious day would have been spoiled if we had not found a teapot in Langaza. And all over Macedonia at that moment, up to the confines of Serbia, Bulgaria and Albania, innumerable parties of Britons were sitting down to tea, in tents, huts or dug-outs, and asking each other to pass the marmalade.”

More on the Munsters

In April 2025 I described my exploration of another possible family connection (albeit by marriage) with the Salonika campaign. This concerned Lt George Clark who was the Medical Officer of 7/Royal Munster Fusiliers. His medal index card and the Battalion war diary (WO 95/4296) conclusively place him in Gallipoli but, to see what happened next, required a visit to The National Archives at Kew to look at the next part of the war diary which, of course, has not been digitised. I can now share the next stage of my investigations and, whilst I don’t expect you to be especially interested in my family history, what I found out about 7/RMF may be of wider interest.

Continue reading “More on the Munsters”

The Sinking of the Rewa

Last year I resolved to share the story of the sinking of the hospital ship, Rewa. I decided to do this on the anniversary of the event in 2026. The trouble was, I failed to check the date and, convinced that it was in February, by the time I looked up the details I realised I had missed it – 4 January! I could have left it until 2027 but, instead, decided to post the story today, Fred Braysher’s birthday, as it was Fred (my grandfather) who told me the story 44 years ago.

Continue reading “The Sinking of the Rewa”

More Chocolate Soldiers!

My thanks go to Rob Elliott and Andy Hutt who have both provided further information on 22nd Division’s production of The Chocolate Soldier. Before I share their pearls of wisdom, here is a link to a page with photos (scroll down!), which I found AFTER posting my article. I added it as a comment, but that may have been missed and the photos are certainly worth seeing:

Continue reading “More Chocolate Soldiers!”

The skirl of the pipes!

Last month I was in London with an evening to spare, so I bought myself a ticket to an event on Horse Guards Parade, something I hadn’t done for many years. The last time I went to one of these, I’m sure it was just billed as ‘Beating Retreat’ by the Household Division, but this was a ‘Military Musical Spectacular’! And the name wasn’t the only change – a large digital screen, electric guitars and fireworks were also innovations, but, at least, the bands of the Brigade of Guards hadn’t changed.

The Salonika campaign was, of course, far too unfashionable for the ‘Gentlemen’s Sons’ of the Guards to take part in – so it was left to ‘The Feet’ (i.e. the line infantry) to do the job – but I did find a Salonika connection during the evening.

Continue reading “The skirl of the pipes!”

Remembering Hori Tribe (1877-1917)

I’ve only recently discovered a fascinating and beautifully presented online exhibition commemorating the life of Hori Tribe (1877-1917), an employee of The Royal Parks who served in Salonika before transferring to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) in June 1917.

©Sarah Gooch

The exhibition, co-curated by the Royal Parks and Hori’s great-granddaughter, Sarah Gooch, has a wonderful and moving collection of photos, drawings and extracts from Hori’s letters.

I certainly won’t attempt to retell Hori’s story here, instead I recommend a visit to the digital exhibition. It is definitely worth a visit and a few moments of your time.

A sketch Hori sent home depicting his life in Macedonia, surrounded by wildlife. ©Sarah Gooch

With the EEF since June and now, at the start of December 1917, Hori had two days’ rest at a monastery just outside of Jerusalem. In the final letter he sent home, Hori included some rosemary – associated with remembrance:

‘The pieces of rosemary included I picked from a hedge in the grounds of the monastery.’

Hori spent two days at the monastery just before his last battle.

Hori was killed in action on 8 December 1917. He is laid to rest at the Jerusalem War Cemetery.

Left: Hori Tribe’s grave in Jerusalem as it appeared shortly after the First World War ©Sarah Gooch Right: Hori’s grave as it appears today ©Nader Habash

Remembering Hori Tribe – A digital exhibiton celebrating the life of Hori Tribe (1877-1917), an employee of The Royal Parks who was killed in action during the First World War.


Wot … no tanks?

A recent holiday in Dorset gave me the opportunity to visit the Tank Museum at Bovington, something I haven’t done for more than 50 years. It was very exciting, although a little alarming to find myself older than some of the exhibits! Although I did have a quick look at the First World War monstrosities (and took a few photos, below), they were not the reason for my visit. What I wanted to see were tanks from the Second World War: Matildas, Valentines, Churchills, Shermans – especially ‘The Funnies’ – and, my all time favourite, Cromwells … but that’s what happens when your formative years were spent with war comics, classic war movies and Airfix kits … lots of Airfix kits! Anyway, I wasn’t disappointed, but this is not the place to discuss my favourite tanks.

Continue reading “Wot … no tanks?”

Pte George Excell of Wotton-under-Edge

One of the things I enjoy most about living in the county of Gloucestershire is its beautiful countryside and many wonderful walks. After a recent hike involving some strenous Cotswold climbs, I stopped for refreshments and recovery in Wotton-under-Edge. Of course, I had to take in the Wotton war memorial where I later discovered a Salonika connection…

Image source: https://www.wottonheritage.com/reminders-a11

According to the town’s heritage centre, the memorial was erected in 1920 and unveiled by a Mrs Cornock. Apparently, and tragically, eight of her sons served in WWI – three did not return*. Among the names on the memorial is that of George Edward Excell.

A photograph of George was published in the Gazette on 2nd November 1918.

George Edward Excell was born in 1896 in Wotton-under-Edge, one of six children of Edwin and Elizabeth Excell, who lived in the Sinwell area of the town. His father, Edwin, worked as a rural postman, while his mother, Elizabeth served as matron at the Perry & Dawes Almshouses on Church Street, Wotton. Edwin died while George was still young.

After finishing school, George began working for Mr. G. W. Palmer, a boot maker based on Long Street in Wotton. Mr. Palmer later served in the Royal Naval Division as an Able Seaman during the Great War.

At the outbreak of the war, George enlisted in Wotton, joining the 11th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment with the service number 18644. The battalion was formed on 14 September 1914 as part of the 78th Brigade in the 26th Division. They trained in Wiltshire, including at Sherrington and on Salisbury Plain, before landing in Boulogne on 21 September 1915. Over the next two years, George saw extensive action on the front lines and was wounded twice.

George Excell recovered from his wounds and resumed service with the Worcestershire Regiment. In September 1918, the 11th Battalion of the Worcesters, including George, was deployed to the Salonika front.

On 16th October 1918, George’s mother, Elizabeth Excell, received a telegram stating that her son was dangerously ill in a hospital in Salonika. Tragically, George had already died of pneumonia four days earlier. It wasn’t until Saturday, 19th October, that she received confirmation of his death. George Excell was 22 years old.

George is buried at Doiran Military Cemetery, in Plot 5, Row H, Grave 28.

Source: ‘First World War Heroes of Wotton-under-Edge’ by Bill Griffiths available online here.
*Bill Griffiths’ book also includes this picture of the Cornock family and the three sons that never returned to Wotton-under-Edge.