With my particular interest in the Army Cyclist Corps in the Macedonian campaign, I could hardly let ‘World Bicycle Day’ go unnoticed!
Continue reading “On Yer Bike!”Tag: BSF
The British Salonika Force (or Army) during the Salonika campaign, 1915-1918.
Ribbit! Ribbit!
When I discovered that today is World Frog Day, I doubted that I could find any frogs with a Salonika connection. Then a memory stirred of a story read in The Mosquito – the journal of the Salonika Reunion Association – but would I find it again … ?
Continue reading “Ribbit! Ribbit!”Happy Saint Andrew’s Day!
Having marked the national days of England, Wales and Ireland over the past year, I could hardly ignore Scotland. Having done one of those family history DNA tests, I was very disappointed to find no trace of Scottish ancestry – 16% Welsh was something of a surprise – so my only claim to Scottish heritage is my great-grandfather from East London who served for 12 years with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) in India and South Africa at the end of the 19th century. Was it the allure of the tartan trews? Anyway, I wish all our Scottish members, friends and visitors a very happy Saint Andrews day.
Continue reading “Happy Saint Andrew’s Day!”Happy International Logistics Day!
Continue reading “Happy International Logistics Day!”National Logistics Day is celebrated on June 28 every year to honor the work of the hardworking professionals in the logistics sector.
More on shorts!
The nice thing about doing these web posts is that sometimes people reply to them and so it has been with last week’s post on the shorts worn by the BSF.
Continue reading “More on shorts!”Bombay Bloomers
If you have read the latest issue of The New Mosquito (47, April 2023), you may recall that in the section on shorts on page 24 I commented that I had yet to see any images of the later pattern of shorts which had flaps to be folded down in the evening to prevent mosquitoes getting to the legs. It turns out that such an image was right in front of me – the Christmas card image on the opposite page showing a combined Yeomanry and cyclist patrol!
Continue reading “Bombay Bloomers”It’s St George’s Day!
Having celebrated the Welsh battalions of the BSF on St David’s Day and the Irish ones on St Patrick’s Day, how should I mark St George’s Day? I feel writers’ cramp coming on just thinking about typing out the names of the 52 or so English battalions of the BSF (see NM 11, April 2005) so, instead, will go for an easier option. The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed on 23 April 1968, celebrates St George’s Day and, indeed, has an image of St George slaying the dragon on its cap badge. It was created by amalgamating four English fusilier regiments: Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and Lancashire Fusiliers. Three of these regiments provided battalions for the BSF.
Continue reading “It’s St George’s Day!”Thanks Andy – you beat me to it!
I was just typing an announcement about the April 2023 issue of The New Mosquito when I saw that the ever efficient Andy has beaten me to it!
Continue reading “Thanks Andy – you beat me to it!”Erin go Bragh!
Having celebrated the Welsh battalions of the BSF on St David’s Day, I can hardly do less for St Patrick’s Day. So here are the Irish battalions that served with the BSF, in order of seniority.
Continue reading “Erin go Bragh!”‘Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus’
… or, for non-Welsh speakers, that’s ‘Happy St David’s Day’! St David’s Day seems the perfect opportunity to remember the six Welsh battalions which served in Macedonia with the British Salonika Force.
Continue reading “‘Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus’”
Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 