100 Years ago this week in the Balkans

[Gardenerbill]

In July 1917 the completion of Salonika to Athens railway and improvements to Bralo Itea road provided a new safer supply route and the first convoys started to use the new route, through France, Italy and mainland Greece.

 

Also in July 1917 the 18,000 Russian forces in the Balkans were reorganised into a Division.

 

the Bolsheviks overthrew the Kerensky government just as the (this happened in Novemebr 1917)

 

3rd August the 43rd, 134th,205th Siege batteries, 181st Heavy battery and a quantity of ammunition left for Egypt.

Edited 31 July , 2017 by Gardenerbill
Factual error

[James A Pratt III]

Sorry guys. The Bolos didn't overthrow Kerensky until November 1917 (NS). The July revolution was a failure and Lenin had to run for it.

[Gardenerbill]

Interesting I'll check my source 

Source checked error was in my notes, thanks James.

Edited 31 July , 2017 by Gardenerbill

[pete-c]

3rd DETACHED SQUADRON (SALONIKA AREA)

 

The military situation on the MACEDONIAN front remains unchanged.  The Royal Naval Air Service special bombing squadron proceeded to THERMI on the 30th July for operations in the vicinity of SMYRNA.

 

On the 1st August, 1,770 Ibs weight of bombs were dropped on the important railway workshops at HALKA BOUNAN, 2 miles east of SMYRNA; considerable damage was done, and a large fire started, which was seen to be still burning when the squadron was landing at THERMI, 60 miles distant.  I regret to report that one of the escorting machines (Pilot - Flight Lieutenant William H. Richardson - Observer - Midshipman John R. Barry, R.N.R.) failed to return.   

 

The aircraft was possibly Sopwith Strutter 9440S Type, Two seat fighter, N5615.  According to an eyewitness, Clifford Heathcote-Smith, (Head of British Intelligence, and apparently the most easily identified Englishman on Mitylene) one of the men jumped clear of the machine shortly before it crashed.  Both the deceased's watches were stopped at 8.20am

 

 

Edited 2 August , 2017 by pete-c
Additional information.

[pete-c]

6th DETACHED SQUADRON (BULGARIAN COAST)

 

The enemy's aircraft were very active in this area and carried out numerous reconnaissance's and bomb attacks, the damage caused was, in the majority, slight. 

 

During the night of the 2nd/3rd August, and the morning of 3rd August, 5 attacks were made on the THASOS aerodrome.  The second of these attacks, when 4 incendiary and 15 high explosive bombs were dropped, did considerable damage, igniting a bomb dump, one Bessonneau and the petrol store.  Valuable and dangerous salvage work was done by the Greek aviators, R.M.L.I guard and Air Service, in spite of the continuous explosions of bombs.  Fortunately there were no casualties.

 

Lieutenant-Commander L.G. Moraitinis, in command of the Greek aviators, specially distinguished himself.  He also, on this night, engaged enemy machines on two occasions, driving one seaplane down on to the water near CAVALLA.

 

[pete-c]

Eastern Mediterranean Station

MUDROS

3rd August, 1917.

 

In view of the present shortage of modern reconnaissance and spotting machines and of personnel to meet the conditions now existing on the STRUMA front, a temporary re-organisation of the Air Service Units at THASOS and STAVROS has been made.  Spotting and reconnaissance machines with their escorts are concentrated at STAVROS using THASOS as an advanced Base when necessary, while THASOS is left with a Seaplane Station, for the purpose of Submarine patrols and intercepting Hostile aircraft, and with the Greek Bombing Flight of aeroplanes, all Units being under one Commanding Officer in close touch with S.O. 6th Detached Squadron and 80th Brigade.

 

 

[pete-c]

OPERATIONS IN TURKEY.

 

THERMI AIR STATION.  'B' and 'F' Squadron.

 

On 5th August the Squadron ['F'] was again sent out with orders to bomb a submarine reported in SMYRNA GULF, and if this could not be seen, to attack the Seaplane base at SANJAK KALE.  No S/M could be located and accordingly SANJAK Fort was well  bespattered with bombs.  Owing to high temperature and thin oil all machines experienced engine trouble and several made the return journey with difficulty.  This necessitated overhaul of engines which has thrown 'F' Squadron out of action for the time. [being.]

 

The usual patrol and reconnaissance work had meanwhile been carried on by 'B' Squadron.

[pete-c]

AEGEAN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE.

MITYLENE

8th August, 1917.

 

Loss of British machine over SMYRNA on August 1st.  Account of an eyewitness.   [See post #254]

 

7 aeroplanes were flying towards HALKA BUNAR when to my surprise I saw the highest one make a downward movement and when about 2,000 metres up turn towards MOUNT PAGUS (the hill crowned by the ruined Castle backing the town to the south)

Four shells were fired at her, but none hit her and the aeroplane was descending all the time.

Then suddenly when over a spot behind Mount Pagus called PALAIA KAMARA on the Boudja road the machine smashed down on to some rocks.  I saw one of the two aviators jump clear when only just above the ground.

As I was less than a mile away and the place was deserted I got a Turkish uniform and fez hoping to be able to spirit the aviator away.  On reaching the spot however I found the machine broken into a thousand pieces and one aviator dead by the side of it.  40 yards away lay the other, still warm but also dead; he was middle height and wearing black boots (demi-bottes); there was some Greek money in his pockets: his cap, a British Naval officers, was found nearby.

I made off a short distance and returned a little later as people were coming up - including Budeke and a German aide-de-camp in a car.

Among the wreckage they discovered a small blue leaved note book with many numbers entered in it, a revolver, a bronze coloured pistol with some red cartridges, 2 watches both stopped at 8.20 a.m., also the machine gun, its cartridges and some India rubber.

The aeroplane was marked No. 5615/W98 (A valve and a piece of wood from it taken by the eyewitness were sent out as proof).

The aviators, on Budeke's orders, were taken to Karantina Hospital the buried at the point cemetery on August 2nd after a big ceremony attended by German and Turkish officers.

 

Signed,  C. Heathcote-Smith.

[Gardenerbill]

7^th August 1917 a composite division of French 156^th/57^th regiments took the village of Pogradec in Eastern Albania.

Edit: According to the official history this action took place on the 7th September 1917

 

17^th August 1917 the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders raid Bulgarian trenches on a hill 3m E of the Vardar and the 10^th Irish Division withdraw from the Struma Sector in preparation for leaving Balkans.

18^th August 1917 the ‘Great Fire’ that raged through half the city of Salonika began in the old quarter.

Edited 20 August , 2017 by Gardenerbill
Correcting factual error

[Gardenerbill]

The Great Fire continued to burn in the City of Salonika for over a week; there is a separate topic on the Great fire with more details.

At the end of August 1917 there were 18,000 Malaria cases.

[Gardenerbill]

A limited Autumn offensive began on the 27th August when General Sarrail requested the British to simulate an attack, heavy artillery on 22nd Division front west of Doiran began bombarding the Bulgarian lines.

30th August a series of small raids were carried out on the 22nd Div front, the Serbs and Italians also simulated attacks.

[Gardenerbill]

On the 4th September a Bulgarian force of 200 to 300 men raided the trenches of the 8th D.C.L.I. in the 79th Brigade sector at the DOVA TEPE spur they initially gained a foot hold but were driven out.

 

7th September a composite French division under General Jacquemot advanced on the far left flank.

[Gardenerbill]

General Milne gave XVI Corps HQ a month’s notice to re-establish the Struma valley out post line.

Out post line to be GUDELI BRIDGE – AGOMAH – HRISTIAN KAMILA – YENIKOI – NEVOLYEN – CUCULUK – ELISHAN – CAVDARMAH – ARTILLERY BRIDGE approximately 2 ¼ miles East of the Struma river.

 

Apologies another factual error.

The attacks on OSMAN KAMILLa and HOMONDOS took place in October not September.

 

10th September the French take Pogradec and push on to the outskirts of Lin west of Lake Ochrid.

 

Edited 15 September , 2017 by Gardenerbill
Factual error

[Gardenerbill]

At the end of September Albanian Troops of Essad Pasha carried out a successful raid in the SHKUMBI valley W of L. OHRID taking 442 prisoners.

[Gardenerbill]

The reasons given by the Official History for the limited offensive action Autumn 1917:

 

The BSF had been reduced by two infantry divisions, two cavalry brigades and a large portion of heavy artillery. The Russian division was no longer reliable. The ranks of the French were depleted by leave parties and the Serbians by casualties. All contingents were severely reduced by Malaria and the Greek army was not yet ready for offensive action.

Edited 1 October , 2017 by Gardenerbill

[Gardenerbill]

The maps being used by the BSF in 1917 were based on the Austrian maps and although an improvement proved to be unsatisfactory as a result the British began a complete new map survey in October.

Also in October 1917 the Crete and Archipelago divisions of the Greek Army joined the Seres Division in Macedonia.

Edited 1 October , 2017 by Gardenerbill

[Gardenerbill]

In order to re-establish the out-post line in the Struma valley, the Bulgarian Garrisons in OSMAN KAMILA and HOMONDOS had to be dealt with.  On the 13th 81st Brigade occupied the KARAJAKOIS villages unopposed and 82nd Brigade occupied the village of OSMAN KAMILA.

 

The 14th October attack on HOMONDOS by the 2nd Cameron Highlanders, 13th Black Watch and 1st Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders was described as a perfect example of a night operation, 153 Bulgarians were captured along with 3 machine guns and 79 Bulgarians were killed. The lessons of Tumbitza farm had been learned, British casualties were light; 1 officer and 10 other ranks killed, 1 officer and 35 other ranks wounded.

Edited 8 October , 2017 by Gardenerbill

[Gardenerbill]

The out-post line in the Butkovo valley below the Krusha hills was re-occupied without incident.

After weeding out royalist officers, Venizelos ordered the general mobilisation of the Greek army. 

[Gardenerbill]

23rd October 1917 a survey detachment from India arrives to help with map survey.

 

25th October 27th Division carried out a raid on the enemy out post line in the Struma valley; Corps mounted troops, including the cyclists, attacked KAKARASKA, Lovat’s Scouts and the 2nd Gloucesters took SALMAH. 1¹/₂ companies of the Lovat’s scouts and the 10th Hampshires advanced on KISPEKI and ADA, but were delayed by difficult ground so the Bulgarian garrison escaped.  106 Bulgarians and 1 machine gun were captured, 60-70 Bulgarians killed.  British casualties were 14 killed 63 wounded.

[Gardenerbill]

The Peak of 24,000 Malaria cases for the Salonika campaign was reached in October 1917.

4th November, XII Corps sector west of Doiran, the 12 A&SH (77th Bde) raided Bulgarian trenches at BOYAU HILL; heavy hand to hand fighting resulted in 54 casualties, Bulgarian casualties not known.

[Gardenerbill]

The French 1st Regiment de Marche Afrique relieved 78th Brigade on the East bank of the Vardar River. To the left of the British were the French 122nd Division and Greek Seres, Archepelego and Crete Divisions.

 

The exchange of positions between 80th and 82nd Brigades begins; 82nd move to STAVROS and 80th to NEOHORI. The moves had to be done in small units and took a month to complete.

[Gardenerbill]

Two events took place in France this week that would have a significant impact on the Balkan campaign; on the 13th November M. Paul Painleve the French Prime Minister resigned and on the 16th he was replaced by M. Georges Clemenceau.

 

Back in the Balkans work commenced on the Stavros light railway.  Stavros and the lower Struma valley had been supplied by sea, the railway would be quicker and remove the risk of losses to U boat attacks.  

[Gardenerbill]

On the 20^th November in the Struma valley the 2^nd Cheshires captured the Bulgarian garrison in BUTKOVO JUM’A, taking 55 prisoners and killing 30; British casualties were very light, 2 officers and 11 other ranks were wounded.

On the 23^rd two parties of around 75 Bulgarians raided P4¹/₂ on the 66^th Bde front west of Doiran both parties were repulsed, 5 Bulgarians killed 2 prisoners taken. 17 of the 12^th Cheshires were wounded, 1 missing.  The Bulgarians also raided the Mamelon; one of the 9^th Kings Own outposts was forced to withdraw, 4 men missing and 6 wounded.

[Gardenerbill]

During November 1917 German units began to leave the Balkan front; first to go were the 146th Regiment and then the 11th Reserve Jaeger Battalion.

Also in November in Russia the Kerensky Government was overthrown by the Bolsheviks, leading to uncertainty over the future of Russian forces in the Balkans.

[James A Pratt III]

The book "The Grinding Mill" by a Russian prince who was with this division tells what happened to the unit.