Maybe it’s my Fenland heritage, but I have long found wetlands fascinating environments. With the Broads in the east, the Fens in the west and lots of swampy bits in between, Norfolk is an ideal place to live, although on this World Wetlands Day my thoughts go to the Struma Valley. The Struma front, where XVI Corps operated, is the aspect of the Macedonian campaign that interests me most – primarily because it’s where my grandfather, Fred, served – but I don’t often think of it in terms of being a wetland environment.
Continue reading “World Wetlands Day”Tag: Struma Front
The British XVI Corps area of operations in the valley of the River Struma (now Strymon).
A Gold Medal Cyclist: the story of Sergeant Michael Henry Margiotta
Regular contributor to these pages, Robin Braysher, first wrote about Michael Margiotta on 6th October 2018 – the 100th anniversary of Michael’s death in Salonika. You can now read a much fuller account by Robin of Michael’s life and service and how he was honoured by the King of Serbia to become “A Gold Medal Cyclist” at the excellent site: Away from the Western Front.
Remembering Charles Ussher Kilner
Continue reading “Remembering Charles Ussher Kilner”It is with great grief that I wish to tell you your son has died of wounds received in the recent attack. Our company was ordered to take up a position on the left flank of a brigade which was taking a village a mile to our front. We know the Bulgars were entrenched there. It was successfully carried out and the trenches taken and held. Your son was hit in the charge gallantly leading his men. I saw him at once and had him taken back. He was hit in the side but was not in great pain. We had great hopes of his recovery but last Saturday he had a relapse and died on Sunday morning. We buried him in a small cemetery where other are laid who in like manner have given their lives for their Country
Letter from Kilner’s company commander to his father, 8 October 1916
A narrow squeak …
Today is my grandfather’s birthday. Were he still alive, Fred would be 133 years old! Back in 1982 I was working abroad, but took the opportunity of a short trip home to spend some time with Fred and we talked about his army service and I made notes. I am so glad I did as he died a few months later. Whilst there is so much more that I could have found out, I am pleased that I do have some first-hand accounts and it’s one of these I want to share with you today.
Continue reading “A narrow squeak …”Remembering William Hernaman
On a recent visit to Walthamstow I took a look at the Vestry House Museum. A former workhouse – built in 1730 – it has a chilling message over the front door: If any would not work neither should he eat. Well, it was chilling for this retired gentleman! Anyway, the building has changed use many times since then – including a spell as the armoury for the local volunteers – but is now the museum for the local area, under the care of Waltham Forest Council, for which it is also the archive and local study area.
Continue reading “Remembering William Hernaman”Rick Stein in Thessaloniki, tonight at 8pm on BBC4
So, nothing about the campaign, but a reminder of what a great city it is to visit and what great food you can get there!
Continue reading “Rick Stein in Thessaloniki, tonight at 8pm on BBC4”More Remarkable Women of the Salonika Campaign
International Women’s Day may have gone, but I see no reason not to remember some other women of the campaign who played a vital role but are largely forgotten: the Macedonian women who worked on the roads, especially the Seres Road.
Continue reading “More Remarkable Women of the Salonika Campaign”
The New Mosquito #41 : April 2020
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.
Red Castle, Yellow Castle …
I am a member of just two military societies, the SCS – of course – and The Friends of the Suffolk Regiment. The latter on account of my grandfather who served with the Regiment from 1906 until 1914, when he volunteered for the newly created Army Cyclist Corps. The latest issue of the Friends’ Gazette (No. 16, March 2020 pp6-7) touches on the Macedonian campaign, so I thought I would share this with you and explore further an inconsequential – but to me entirely fascinating – piece of military ephemera, which follows on very nicely from my previous post on slouch hats in Salonika.
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”
Salonika Campaign Society, 1915-1918 