Category: Salonika Stories

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

Missing SRA plaque

We have been contacted by Phil, a volunteer on the Imperial War Museum’s War Memorials Register Project.  They have a record of a memorial plaque that was placed in St John’s Church, Hanley, Staffordshire by the Salonika Reunion Association in memory of those who served and died in Salonika.

The church is now an antiques centre and Phil has spoken to the owner who has confirmed that the plaque is no longer there.  He said that a number of plaques were removed during the period when the church was closed.

A quick search of The Mosquito – the publication of the SRA  – has not revealed any mention of the church, the plaque or any dedication ceremony, so it remains a mystery. Does anyone out there know anything about the plaque? Please contact us if you do and we will pass the information onto Phil.

The Doiran Memorial.
The Doiran Memorial serves the dual purpose of a Battle Memorial of the British Salonika Force (for which a large sum of money was subscribed by the officers and men of that force), and a place of commemoration for more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died in Macedonia and whose graves are not known. The memorial was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer with sculpture by Walter Gilbert. It was unveiled by Sir George Macdonogh on 25 September 1926. It stands on Colonial Hill in northern Greece, overlooking the lake and town of Dojran in Northern Macedonia. Photo by the editor, March 2016.

Happy Lunar New Year!

I wish you all the very best for the Year of the Rat. You can find out more about the Rat and the Lunar New Year in Vietnam here. If, like me, you were born in a ‘Rat Year’ you are likely to be approachable and optimistic, at ease and not argumentative. You want to be liked and are happy to be helped by others. Apparently we ‘Rats’ have the power of prediction, observation, and acute vision. I’m very short-sighted so clearly something wrong!

Continue reading “Happy Lunar New Year!”

7th January 1918 : Dear M …

I recently bought a set of five postcards sent from Salonika. This was not really for the images – although they are attractive – as I already own some of them. The attraction was that, after more than one hundred years, the group has stayed together and capture a brief correspondence between a member of the BSF and a young lady in England. They won’t add any particular insight into the campaign, but it’s nice to be able to remember them, even though the sender is only identified as ‘Jack’. Continue reading “7th January 1918 : Dear M …”

Exhibition and Event at Sandham Memorial Chapel: 16-27 October 2019

An exhibition of work by 2018 Sky Landscape Artist of the Year, Jen Gash, inspired by her journey through the countryside of Macedonia accompanying the 2018 SCS Centenary tour and following in Stanley Spencer’s footsteps.

Continue reading “Exhibition and Event at Sandham Memorial Chapel: 16-27 October 2019”

A picture of the Salonika campaign?

I was pleased to hear from Joel Garzoli an art dealer from San Francisco. We are truly global! Joel had a question about a picture in his collection, a First World War painting by American artist Gilbert Gaul, called ‘Directing Traffic’. Does the painting depict a scene from the Salonika campaign?

Continue reading “A picture of the Salonika campaign?”

Remembering František Štěrba who died in Hotesovo, 17 March 1917

A departure from our usual BSF focus this time. The Austro-Hungarian Army has not come up before although they were active in Macedonia, albeit at the other end of the line from the BSF. I am pleased though, to be able to remember František Štěrba, who lies in Northern Macedonia, a long way from home. Continue reading “Remembering František Štěrba who died in Hotesovo, 17 March 1917”

And another thing …

It is its marvellous collection of military vehicles that makes Muckleburgh well worth a visit – that and its location in glorious North Norfolk – but other delights are an historic military camp, the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry Collection, previously mentioned, and an extensive display of scale models. Continue reading “And another thing …”