Minden Day and ‘The Old Dozen’

Fred, my grandfather, spent the First World War in the Army Cyclist Corps but, in truth, he was – at heart – a ‘Suffolk’. Before getting on his bike he spent nearly eight years as a regular soldier in the First Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment, preceded by a short spell in the 4th (Militia) Battalion. So you will understand why the Suffolk Regiment – especially 1/Suffolk – is of particular interest to me.

Continue reading “Minden Day and ‘The Old Dozen’”

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”

The New Mosquito #7 : April 2003

This issue concludes the detailed unit history of 8th Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry by Tony Richards – started in issue 6 – which continues with more on the Battalion’s role in the First Battle of Doiran to demobilisation in 1919.

Continue reading “The New Mosquito #7 : April 2003”

The New Mosquito #35 : April 2017

UK members should already have received the latest edition of The New Mosquito, timed to coincide with the centenary of the First Battle of Doiran. Issues for overseas members are on their way and should be arriving soon. If you are expecting a copy, but haven’t, please contact the Society. Continue reading “The New Mosquito #35 : April 2017”

The New Mosquito #6 : September 2002

I have jumped forward a couple of years for this next issue, which contains the first of a two part article on 8th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry by Tony Richards, who served as SCS Treasurer for a number of years. This first part includes an account of the Battalion’s role in the First Battle of Doiran.

Continue reading “The New Mosquito #6 : September 2002”

The New Mosquito #1 : April 2000

Last October I promised to start providing details of back issues of the Society’s journal, The New Mosquito. Six months on, with nothing yet achieved, I’d better get cracking – especially as another issue will be out later this month! Continue reading “The New Mosquito #1 : April 2000”

Remembering Lt John Jones Savin

Lt John Jones Savin was mentioned in an earlier post on the formation of 16 Corps Cyclist Battalion (09/12/2016). It was a name I was familiar with, having read the war diary of 28th Divisional Cyclist Company many times. Continue reading “Remembering Lt John Jones Savin”

Faces of Salonika : Luigi Villari, Italian Army Liaison Officer

Luigi Villari (1876–1959) was an Italian historian, traveller and diplomat. He worked in the Italian Foreign Office and was later a newspaper correspondent. Villari served as Italy’s Vice-Consul in three American cities between 1906 and 1910. He devoted most of his life to the study of international problems, more especially to the relations between Italy and the English-speaking countries (Wikipedia). Continue reading “Faces of Salonika : Luigi Villari, Italian Army Liaison Officer”