Tag: 60th Division

60th Division. An infantry division of the British Salonika Force.

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!”

Another church …

… another memorial. On a recent jaunt to London I found myself in St Mary’s Church, Battersea, for a jazz gig. It’s a fine Georgian Church right by the Thames and is the burial place of Benedict Arnold, general of the American Revolutionary War who had the ‘distinction’ of serving on both sides!

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Lieut. Harman Shanley, late 5th Connaught Rangers – an update

Nearly two years ago I published a post about an intriguing set of medals for sale on eBay, that had belonged to Lieut. Shanley of 5/Connaught Rangers. In addition to ‘Pip, Squeak and Wilfred’, there were also US and French Second World War medals. What was especially interesting for me, was that the British War Medal had a long list of unofficial bars, from the Battle of Kosturino onwards.

Continue reading “Lieut. Harman Shanley, late 5th Connaught Rangers – an update”

First Night of the Proms : A Salonika Special!

Whilst the First World War Centenary theme of Friday night’s opening concert of the BBC Proms season isn’t in doubt, you may look in vain for any explicit acknowledgement of the Salonika connection. So you read it here first! Continue reading “First Night of the Proms : A Salonika Special!”

The New Mosquito #36 : September 2017

Members should have received this latest edition of The New Mosquito, by now. Please contact the Society if you are expecting a copy, but haven’t received it.

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1/12th Battalion (Pioneers) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Macedonia : Part 3

By Harry Fecitt MBE TD

We were fortunate also in getting during April the 1/12th Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, which came to us as our Pioneer Battalion, under a most capable officer, Lieutenant Colonel Beckett.  They were a hard-bitten, thirsty lot of Lancashire miners, but what they could do with a spade was a perfect revelation.  The Division owed a great deal to this fine Battalion for the splendid work they did on the Vimy Ridge, and I attribute our comparatively low casualty returns to the rapidity with which these pioneers, assisted by the various battalions, managed to lower the depth of the trenches eighteen inches in record time.

Major General E.S. Bulfin CB, Commander 60th Division, France 1916.

 Embarkation for Egypt

Continue reading “1/12th Battalion (Pioneers) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Macedonia : Part 3”

1/12th Battalion (Pioneers) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Macedonia : Part 2

By Harry Fecitt MBE TD

We were fortunate also in getting during April the 1/12th Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, which came to us as our Pioneer Battalion, under a most capable officer, Lieutenant Colonel Beckett.  They were a hard-bitten, thirsty lot of Lancashire miners, but what they could do with a spade was a perfect revelation.  The Division owed a great deal to this fine Battalion for the splendid work they did on the Vimy Ridge, and I attribute our comparatively low casualty returns to the rapidity with which these pioneers, assisted by the various battalions, managed to lower the depth of the trenches eighteen inches in record time.

Major General E.S. Bulfin CB, Commander 60th Division, France 1916.

 Salonika

Continue reading “1/12th Battalion (Pioneers) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Macedonia : Part 2”

1/12th Battalion (Pioneers) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Macedonia : Part 1

By Harry Fecitt MBE TD

We were fortunate also in getting during April the 1/12th Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, which came to us as our Pioneer Battalion, under a most capable officer, Lieutenant Colonel Beckett.  They were a hard-bitten, thirsty lot of Lancashire miners, but what they could do with a spade was a perfect revelation.  The Division owed a great deal to this fine Battalion for the splendid work they did on the Vimy Ridge, and I attribute our comparatively low casualty returns to the rapidity with which these pioneers, assisted by the various battalions, managed to lower the depth of the trenches eighteen inches in record time.

Major General E.S. Bulfin CB, Commander 60th Division, France 1916.

1/12th (Territorial) Battalion (Pioneers) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Continue reading “1/12th Battalion (Pioneers) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Macedonia : Part 1”