100 Years ago this week in the Balkans

[Gardenerbill]

Apart from 27th Division front in the Struma valley and in the air, there was very little offensive action in the autumn of 1917. According to the official history the allies were simply not strong enough.

 

The British had removed 2 Infantry Divisions, 2 Cavalry Brigades and a significant amount of heavy artillery. The Russian Division had become unreliable. The Serbs were depleted by casualties that could not be replaced and large numbers of French were now going home on leave. Added to this thousands of men were suffering from Malaria, and the Greek Army was not yet ready to take a significant role in offensive action.

 

Then on the 9th December Roumania signed an armistice with central powers freeing up German and Austrian forces engaged there.

[Gardenerbill]

The newly appointed French Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau had made it clear what he thought of the Balkan campaign with his famous quote ‘Let them be known as the Gardeners of Salonika’, and he had an immediate impact when on the 10th December he ordered the return of General Sarrail from Salonika.

 

On the 15th the Russian Karenski government signed an armistice with the central powers; the Russian forces in the Balkans could no longer be used.

[Gardenerbill]

The last British action of the year takes place 20th December 1917 in the Struma valley when the 2nd 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.

 

22nd December General Guillaumat arrives in Salonika to take over from General Sarrail.

[Gardenerbill]

I have searched my reference books, biographies and war diaries and I can’t find any reference to Christmas festivities in December 1917. Perhaps this is because for many this was there 3^rd Christmas in the Balkans and most had not been on home leave, many were sick and fed up with poor food, the extreme climate and army life in general.

[Gardenerbill]

At the end of December 1917, General Guillaumat’s instructions from General Foch, countersigned by Clemenceau were to prevent the conquest of Greece by the enemy. They were to maintain the line from the Aegean to the Albanian Lakes and if possible keep in touch with the Italians at Valona. When the defensive organisation was complete the possibility of offensive action was to be considered.

 

On the 3rd January as part of a wider tour of the front line General Guillaumat visited the XII Corps front.

[Gardenerbill]

On the 9th January General Guillaumat visited the XVI Corps front in the Struma valley.

 

General Guillaumat set about improving relations between allies with more collaborative approach, he also ordered the completion and improvements to the Salonika defences.

[Gardenerbill]

General Allenby’s successes in Palestine freed up guns for Salonika; 424th Siege Battery arrived with an 8-inch gun capable of destroying concrete bunkers and 12 Newton 6-inch Trench Mortars that were very effective at wire cutting arrived.

 

The break-up of the Russian Division began. The Russian soldiers were disarmed, and many began to leave, however some remained and joined the labour force. The Bulgarians raided the sector where the French had replaced the Russians.

 

On the 20th January 1918 the enemy ships GOEBEN and BREALAU struck mines off the Dardenelles, the BREALAU was sunk, General Milne dispatched 10 aircraft to bomb the GOEBEN.

[pete-c]

On ‎14‎/‎01‎/‎2018 at 16:35, Gardenerbill said:

 

 

On the 20th January 1918 the enemy ships GOEBEN and BREALAU struck mines off the Dardenelles, the BREALAU was sunk, General Milne dispatched 10 aircraft to bomb the GOEBEN.

 

Sunday, January 20th, 1918.  HMS Ark Royal, Port Mudros.  Ships Log.

 

8.50 AM.  Raised steam for full speed and took action as required by Memo 325 of R.A.E. of 31.12.17 and Senior Naval Officer's wireless telegraphy 0601.

 

9.00 AM.  Short Type 184 'N1825' Patrol & Spotting flight. (Flt Lt Smith)

9.30 Am.      "         "        "   'N1668'  Escorting Flight. (Flt Lt Silk)

 

At 11.00 AM two more aircraft arrived from the R.N.A.S. Base on Thasos;  Sopwith Baby 'N1122' and Short 184 'N1826' piloted by Flt Lt's Burton and Clift.

 

3.20 PM.  The order of 8.50 AM for full steam etc. was 'Negatived'.

10.30PM.  Sopwith (Blackburn) Baby 'N1445' (Flt Sub Lt Johnston) failed to return to No. 2 Bessonneau at Talikna.  Reported shot down in flames by hostile aircraft while attacking Goeben or Breslau.  

                                      

This machine had possibly taken off from Talikna at approximately 9.30 AM;  'N1668' (above) probably being its escort.

 

'N1445' was indeed shot down in flames during this attack on the above vessels.  Flt Sub Lt W. Johnston becoming a victim of Emil Meinecke.

 

The Pilots and Air Mechanics on Ark Royal would be kept very busy during the remaining days of January.            

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 January , 2018 by pete-c

[JulianR]

Someone asked what Christmas Celebrations were held in 1917, 267 Railway Construction Coy. RE celebrated by a Small Arms Inspection at 09:30 hrs, a big dinner at 12:30 hrs and an evening concert, no work was done on Boxing Day, 117 Coy made no mention of any celebrations and 273 RCC had both Xmas and Boxing Days off.

[JulianR]

On ‎28‎/‎09‎/‎2015 at 12:47, Gardenerbill said:

I thought it would be interesting to start a chronological thread on the main events related to the French led campaign in the Balkans, so as a starter; according to the Gardeners of Salonika it is 100 years ago this week that French and British Staff officers arrived in Salonika ahead of the first Divisions of troops. Who were these officers and where did they set up their offices?

Amongst these officers was Col Maurice Eden Sowerby R.E. Director of Railways designate, he was on loan from the Sudan Government Railways..  Lt-Col Frederick Dawson Hammond, R.E arrived a few days later to set up the Railway Transport Executive.  

[Gardenerbill]

Thank you Pete C for the additional information on the GOEBEN and BREALAU incident and Julian for the Christmas contribution.

 

In January 1918 the recommendation by the medical authorities in Salonika to return home 15,000 Chronic Malaria cases was put into action. The re-equipping and re-organisation of the Greek Royalist army brought 22,000 men into the field.

 

Two Sound Ranging sections arrived.

 

Under the ‘Corfu Pact’ Croats and Slovenes agreed to join the Serbs and fight for a ‘Yugoslavian’ state.

[pete-c]

January 22nd 1918.  HMS Ark Royal, Port Mudros.

 

6am  AS (Air Service) Ratings at work on special gear for dropping torpedo from machine.

 

Sopwith Baby 'N1201'

       "           "     'N1444'

       "           "     'N1122'

The above machines are tasked with a night bombing mission on the Goeben; leaving at 10.20pm, 10.39pm and 10.46pm.

 

11.35pm   'N1122' returned with engine trouble - wrecked on landing - pilot unhurt.

12.39pm   'N1201' returned.

'N1444' failed to return

[Caroline Booth]

Gardnerbill mentions the decision in Jan 1918 to repatriate 15,000 chronic malaria sufferers.  I am currently reading the 13th Manchester Battalion War Diary for 1918.  Almost daily troops are being taken off the 'effective strength' numbers with reference to GRO 1011.  Is this referring to this decision or am I plucking at straws?  If nothing to do with this, any insight to GRO 1011 gratefully received!

Caroline

http://ayearofwar.com

[pete-c]

January 23rd, 1918.  HMS Ark Royal, Port Mudros.

 

6am  AS Ratings working on special dropping gear.

7am  Short 184 'N1668' Patrol and Search flight, (for 'N1444') Flt Lt Silk.

11am  Short 184 'N1591',  Test flight with torpedo,  Flt Cdr Malet.

11.45am  Sopwith Baby 'N1444', Flt Sub Lt Smith, towed back to ship by TB 043 having landed owing to engine trouble N of Lemnos at 12.15am. (See previous post) Found by 'N1668' and taken in tow by her to (Mudros) Harbour Mouth.

3pm  Short 184 'N1591' Test Flight.

5pm      "        "          "       Practice flight dropping torpedo at target.  Torpedo failed to run and sank.

 

HMS Empress has by this time arrived off Lemnos.  Her two Short Type 184 aircraft will assist with the on-going bombardment of Goeben.

[Gardenerbill]

Regarding @Caroline Booth post #288, men were struck off strength when they were deemed no longer fit for front line duty, presumably this would include the chronic malaria cases. If forum pal @Maureene sees this, she is very knowledgable on medical matters on the Salonika front and may be able to help.

Edited 23 January , 2018 by Gardenerbill

[MaureenE]

I can't add anything specific about Caroline's  query, but there are some online  books which include malaria which may be of interest.

 

History of the Great War: Medical Services: General History, Volume IV by G W Macpherson 1924. Includes Salonika. Archive.orgAlso in this series: Medical Services: Diseases of the War Volume I, Includes Malaria. Archive.org.

Memoranda on some medical diseases in the Mediterranean war area, with some sanitary notes HMSO 1916. Archive.org

Anti-malaria Work in Macedonia among British Troops by W G Willoughby 1918 https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.549567

 

Some nursing comments

"A Nurse in Salonika – the Diary of Edith Moor" by Anthony Richards. October 1916 to November 1917. Moor was in Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service, posted to the 43rd General Hospital. Initially the vast majority of the patients she treated were suffering from malaria. Archived page, Salonika Campaign Society.

 

Memoir of Jane McLennan, Australian Army Nursing Service. Enlisted on 28 May 1917 for overseas service. Served No. 3 Unit, 60th General Hospital Salonika. In March 1918 she was invalided back to Australia with heart disease. Original diary with transcript. State Library of Queensland. From page 23 "The night staff had to take every precaution against mosquito bites and wore gloves, puttees, hat and a net veil on duty but many of the sisters went down with the disease [malaria] in spite of these precautions". Jane McLennan: Time Line “A State of War” State Library of Queensland.

 

Cheers

Maureen

 

[JulianR]

During late January, 1917 273 Railway Construction Coy. R.E. was working on the Salamanli-Guvesne Standard Gauge line, they had great problems reaching their campsite by lorry as it had rained for the previous few days and they had to carry all their equipment three-quarters of a mile.  It started snowing on the morning of the 25th Jan, and the Entrenching Battalions that had been sent to carry out the earthwork either did very little work and failed to turnout at all.  It was reported that the Entrenching Battalions needed basic stores such as boots for their men and corrugated iron for the cookhouse.  

[pete-c]

January 24th, 1918.  HMS Ark Royal, Port Mudros.

 

9.30am  Diving party from HMS Lord Nelson recovered torpedo lost on the 23rd.

2pm    Short 184 'N1668' Practice Flight.

3pm       "        "   'N1591' Practice Torpedo Flight, Flt Cdr Malet.  Torpedo circled and was brought back to ship. 

4.30pm  "         "   'N1668'  Patrol Flight, Flt Lt Silk.

 

Whether the above 'circling' of the torpedo was unintentional or, if it was deliberately set to revolve in this manner - perhaps in order to test running time - in unknown.  The torpedoes stored on Ark Royal were, more than likely, those loaded on her when she sailed for the Aegean in early 1915 so, even allowing for the fact that they underwent regular servicing their propulsion and guidance systems may well have become, by this time, somewhat unreliable.  It would seem therefore, following this incident, the use of this type of ordnance, against the Goeben, was discounted.   As will be seen below, other types of weapon would now be considered. 

 

January 25th.

 

1am  Searchlight in use as requisite for seaplanes returning to HMS Empress.

5am  HMS Manxman arrives.  (She brought with her fresh supplies of bombs)

6.10am  AS Ratings working on special fittings.

2.30pm  Short 184 'N1591' Test Flight with depth charge.

[pete-c]

HMS Ark Royal.  Port Mudros.

 

January 26th and 27th saw the A S Ratings busy working on the fitment of the special equipment to the aircraft.  At 10.30pm on the 27th, the machines were being prepared for flight.

 

January 28th. 

12.20am  Short 184 'N1591'  Flight with warhead, Flt Cdr Malet.   (Malet flew solo due to weight of the warhead.)

12.30am     "         "    'N1825'  Flight with bombs, Flt Cdr Ferrand and Observer Flt Sub Lt Wishaw.

 

This 'warhead' was more than likely one of at least two bombs that were converted from the warheads of 14" torpedoes by the Artificers on board HMS Agamemnon.  A photograph of these can be found on page 149 of The Airman's War 1914-18 by Peter H. Liddle.

 

1am  Searchlight in use as requisite.

1.40am  Short 184 'N1825' returned. Compass unsatisfactory.

3.18am      "        "    'N1591' returned having dropped warhead at 16,000 ft off Nagara Point.  Unable to see Goeben.  Encountered heavy A.A. and machine gun fire.

11am  Ship visited by R.A."E" and C in C re depth charge fitting.

12.30pm  Short 184 'N1591' made flight dropping experimental depth charge in N end of harbour.

 

Edited 25 January , 2018 by pete-c
Corrected text.

[JulianR]

In January 1918 117 Railway Construction Coy had almost finished building the Sarigeul-Rajanova Light Railway which would be opened on schedule on 1st Feb.  

 

267 Coy was working on the Stravos Light Railway, in the Langavuk-Strolongos Section. 273 Coy were working from Sarakli to Langavuk, and they reported that work had been held up as the infantry labour had been taken away and not replaced nor had they been issued with any petrol tractors to move the construction trains.

[Gardenerbill]

In early February the British sector of the line was very quiet, however in the Serbian sector there was a lot of Bulgarian activity leading to speculation that the enemy might be planning an offensive.

[JulianR]

At the beginning of Feb 1918 117 Railway Construction Coy, RE were preparing to extend the decauville line from Snevce to Karamundli.  267 Coy who were working on the Sarakli to Stavros line had a strike by the Turkish P.o.W. on 1st February and 273 Coy reported that they had run the first two petrol tractors on their portion of the line, but that none were available  for work yet.  

[Gardenerbill]

On 31/01/2018 at 18:42, JulianR said:

At the beginning of Feb 1918 117 Railway Construction Coy, RE were preparing to extend the decauville line from Snevce to Karamundli.  267 Coy who were working on the Sarakli to Stavros line had a strike by the Turkish P.o.W. on 1st February and 273 Coy reported that they had run the first two petrol tractors on their portion of the line, but that none were available  for work yet.  

 

My Grandfather's ASC company built a number of petrol tractors based on Ford cars I believe for use on the narrow guage line that ran along the edge of the Struma valley. I found this picture somewhere on the forum.

[JulianR]

I think that this is actually on the Western Front

[Gardenerbill]

2 minutes ago, JulianR said:

I think that this is actually on the Western Front

Yes but it gives an idea of what the petrol tractors looked like.