As it’s UN International Mountain Day I thought I would share with you a photo of some Balkan mountains. Looking through my collection of photos from a trip to the area in spring 2016, these are the most impressive peaks I could find. Although distant, they are satisfyingly snow-capped!
Tag: Doiran Front
The British XII Corps area of operations around Lake Doiran on the border between Greece and Serbia (now FYROM).
Faces of Salonika : John Henry Gibbon – Methodist army chaplain
The John Rylands Library recently accepted on deposit a collection of diaries written by a Methodist army chaplain John Henry Gibbon (1880-1933), who served in Salonika with the 67th Brigade of the 22nd Division between November 1916 and June 1917. Continue reading “Faces of Salonika : John Henry Gibbon – Methodist army chaplain”
Who was ‘Jackson Ravine’ at Doiran named after?
If you take a look at a map of the Doiran battlefield you will see that the British – and before them the French – put a lot of effort into naming the various features.
Continue reading “Who was ‘Jackson Ravine’ at Doiran named after?”
SCS BATTLEFIELD TOUR : 23 September – 30 September 2019
The SCS Tour Team is pleased to announce details of the Society’s September 2019 battlefield tour. This tour includes visits to key sites associated with British Salonika Force operations between 1916 and 1918 as well as attendance at official ceremonies of commemoration in Greece. The group will also visit sites not previously on any previous tour itinerary. Continue reading “SCS BATTLEFIELD TOUR : 23 September – 30 September 2019”
SCS April Salonika Battlefield Tour: 12-17 April 2019
After our popular 2017 tour and the numerous military units we have led to this stunning battlefield, with the help of recognized authority on the Campaign and author of Under the Devil’s Eye, Alan Wakefield, Battle Honours are pleased to announce this small group walking tour in connection with the Salonika Campaign Society. Continue reading “SCS April Salonika Battlefield Tour: 12-17 April 2019 “
Remembering 5769 Private Joseph Devine, ACC
In April 2017 a post about the Army Cyclist Corps in Macedonia prompted a response from Kevin MacDermot who was researching his great uncle, 5769 Private Joseph Devine of 16th Corps Cyclist Battalion, Army Cyclists Corps (formerly 10623, Royal Irish Fusiliers).
Continue reading “Remembering 5769 Private Joseph Devine, ACC”
Meanwhile …
I’m going to take a break from French colonial cavalry to consider what the BSF was doing at this time, using the Official History of Military Operations in Macedonia (Vol. 2 – 1935) by Capt. Cyril Falls.
What next?
Under the Devil’s Eye describes the thoughts of a British officer after the two failed attacks at Doiran:
“a stunned silence”
In the small hours of September 20 all German and Bulgarian troops from the Crna to Dojran were ordered to prepare to fall back to new positions.
“The cost was far too high”
A second attack was ordered for September 19. Alan Palmer describes it in stark terms and adds a damning indictment of the British attacks.