100 Years ago this week in the Balkans

[Gardenerbill]

On the 21st May General Briggs CO of XVI Corps requested the 13th Division of the Royal Greek Army place 1 regiment in the line, between GUDELI Bridge and AHINOS.

 

Withdrawal to the summer line began in May but was far less extensive than previous in years due to the Greek soldier’s now in the line having natural resistance to Malaria.

 

A battery of Greek 150mm guns was withdrawn from Fort DOVA TEPE during the hours of darkness and to fool the enemy was replaced by wooden guns.

[Gardenerbill]

On the 29th May bombardments and diversionary raids took place all along the front line in preparation for the Greek action in the LJUMNICA valley.

30th May 1918 the action in the LJUMNICA valley known as the battle of SKRA-DI-LEGEN began (see separate post for details of this important battle).

[Gardenerbill]

Due to the worsening situation on the western front, on the 9th June General Guillaumat was recalled to France to organise the defence of Paris, he did however leave outline plans for a general offensive in the Balkans.

 

Also in June 1918 the French provided 1 aviation squadron for each Greek corps and the Creation of a Yugoslav Brigade from former Croat, Bosnian and Slav soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian army, began.

[Acknown]

In June 1918, my 44-year-old great uncle 2Lt Hugh Alfred Foyster ASC arrived in Salonika on the SS Amazonia out of Taranto. On 25th June, he moved up the line and joined the 15th Auxiliary Horse Transport Company (798th Company ASC), which had been formed in January 1917. According to the company’s War Diary (WO 95/4808), its 1918 establishment included five officers, 480 other ranks, 27 horses, 663 mules, 150 limbers (carts), two water carts and a ‘Maltese cart’, probably for medical use. It is not known what job Hugh was given, but as he filled in and initialled the company’s war diary entry each day, it is assumed he remained in the company headquarters, possibly as an operations officer. The company was employed mainly on the Seres Road, supplying a variety of material. Hugh's War Diary entries focus on the state of the roads ('roads sloppy') and the health of the mules ('one mule to hospital'), with the occasional sighting of enemy reconnaissance aircraft that were routinely ‘driven off by AA [anti-aircraft] guns’. The company carried on with their tasks well after the Bulgarians left the field and it ended up at Constantinople in 1919.

Acknown

[Gardenerbill]

Hi Acknown,

My grandfather was with the 801st MT Coy ASC based on the Seres road at the same time as your Gt Uncle, their paths may have crossed, but as my Grandfather was an NCO and your Gt Uncle an officer, both in different units it is very unlikely.

[Acknown]

The numerical nearness may indicate that the companies were similarly engaged, but I can't find the 801st company on the LLT. But I'm sure they met!

Acknown

[Gardenerbill]

16 hours ago, Acknown said:

The numerical nearness may indicate that the companies were similarly engaged, but I can't find the 801st company on the LLT. But I'm sure they met!

Acknown

 

Have you seen my website:

 

801 MT Coy

Edited 10 June , 2018 by Gardenerbill

[Gardenerbill]

On the 12th June it was announced that General Guillaumat would be replaced as commander of allied forces in the Balkans by General Franchet D'Esperey. General Henrys was appointed temporary commander in chief Salonika.

 

British withdrawal from Salonika was again discussed at a meeting of the war cabinet, General Milne was not consulted.

 

With the mobilisation of the royalist Greek 3rd, 4th and 14th Divisions, almost all divisions of the Greek army were now mobilised.

[Acknown]

On 10/06/2018 at 11:51, Gardenerbill said:

Have you seen my website:

I have now! Many thanks. Mechanised, so perhaps your grandfather didn't my great-uncle's muleteers.

Acknown

[Gardenerbill]

Then again:

 

 

Lorries and Mules on the Seres road I think

Edited 11 June , 2018 by Gardenerbill

[Acknown]

Excellent!

Acknown

[Gardenerbill]

On the 17th June General Louis Félix Marie François Franchet d'Espèrey arrived in Salonika; he was given the nick name Desperate Franky by the British rank and file.

 

On the 22nd a Directive was issued from French ministry of war to assume an aggressive attitude in the Balkans.

 

French operations north of the river DEVOLI at the western end of the front captured the KAMIA ridge from the Austrians and in the east the Greek 2nd Division moved to the west of the Seres road.

[Gardenerbill]

On the 28th June General Franchet D’esperey met Serbian General Voivode Misic to discuss offensive plans.

 

In June 1918 12 British battalions were withdrawn from the Salonika front; from 22nd Division, 14th K.L.R., 12th Lancs Fusiliers, 13th Manchesters; from 26th Division, 9th Glocesters, 10th Black Watch, 7th Wiltshires; from 27th Division, 13th (SH) Black Watch, 4th K.R.R.C., 10th Cameron Highlanders; 28th Division, 2nd  Norfolk Fusiliers, 3rd Royal Fusiliers and the 1st K.O.Y.L.I. These Battalions were described as riddled with Malaria and many men were left at hospitals on the route to France. Once they got there they were declared not fit for front line duty on the Western front.

[Gardenerbill]

Increase in Bulgarian artillery activity in the DOIRAN VARDAR sector and intelligence from deserters pointed to a possible Bulgarian offensive, by the end of June deserters began to report that the Bulgarian offensive operation had been cancelled.

 

Movements as a result of the Greek 2nd Division coming into the line were completed and the 27th Division began moving west of the river Vardar.

[Gardenerbill]

The Bulgarians were now seen as vulnerable, no longer able to rely on support from Germany, Austria or Turkey. The Supreme war council was once again in favour of a Macedonian campaign. At the 11th July Versaille conference, further instructions were given to General Franchet D'Esperey to continue preparations for offensive. General Milne was supportive of offensive action and on the 15th July, Major General Sackville-West requested detailed information on the plans from General Franchet D'Esperey. However General Sir Henry Wilson at the war office was still opposed to offensive action in Macedonia.

 

On the 9th July the 27th Division replaced the 122nd French Division in MAYADAGH sector west of the Vardar river.

[Gardenerbill]

Meetings of the supreme war council continued at Versailles throughout July, and at the meeting on the 15th Major-General Sackville-West requested detailed information on the offensive plans in Macedonia from General Franchet D'Esperey. On the 19th July General Guillaumat replied on behalf of General Franchet D’Esperay; the main offensive front to be between Lake Doiran and the river Crna using 12 divisions; 2 British, 2 Greek, 6 Serbian and 2 French.

 

Members of the British Salonika Force in hospital from sickness or wounds in June were 10,109 by mid-July the numbers peaked at 13,812, significantly down on previous years, although there were fewer battalions in the field. The number of courts martial was comparatively low, indicating that morale was good.

[Gardenerbill]

By the end of July the Greek 1st Corps was fully established in the Struma valley.

 

The disposition of forces under General Milne was: Greek I Corps from the Gulf of Orfano to Lake Butkovo, 28th Division Lake Butkovo to Lake Doiran, XII Corps from Lake Doiran to RAVINE-DE-LA- BERGERIE west of the river Vardar.

 

25th July General Milne received orders from General Franchet D'Esperey to prepare for offensive operations in September, the British and Greeks to attack at Doiran between Pip Ridge and Doiran town with a flanking attack on the Blag Planina. Main objective to break through and disrupt the Bulgarian supply line from Strumica and to prevent forces from being moved west to where the main attack would take place.

[Gardenerbill]

While the French, Serbs, Greeks, and British were busy preparing for the autumn offensive, the Italians launched an offensive of their own in southern Albanian, advancing 10 miles along a 60-mile front, taking 2,000 Austrian prisoners and capturing 228 guns. The French also pushed forward on their left to keep in touch with the Italians. However in early August the Austrians counter attacked regaining most of the land territory.

[Gardenerbill]

Although General Milne preferred a flanking attack at the mouth of the river Struma he was prepared to attack once again at Doiran in support of the main offensive, this would tie down the Elite Bulgarian 9th Pleven Division and stop it being moved to where the main offensive would take place.

 

Since the last attack at Doiran in May 1917 the Bulgarians had continued to strengthen their positions and to build more concrete bunkers. With this in mind, Milne requested the return of the 6-inch battery from Egypt and at least one more 8-inch Howitzer, neither were forthcoming. He also requested more men to bring his depleted battalions up to strength and more ammunition again these requests were rejected.

[Gardenerbill]

General Francher D’Esperay telegraphed M. Clemenceau requesting him to put pressure on the British war cabinet to supply more ammunition. Additional supplies of ammunition were promised to be sent via Cherbourg and Taranto, in the event these would not arrive in time. Requests for additional trench mortars were declined. Extra Lewis guns were sent, increasing numbers from 20 to 32 per battalion and a request was made for more chemical shells as gas could be used to neutralise enemy batteries.

New sound ranging sections had arrived and there was improved liaison with the RAF, but this was of little use without long range weapons. Plans were drawn up to bring large numbers of Indian troops to Macedonia, but these would not be available until 1919.

 

A Captain D. Mackay of the RTC arrived in August 1918 to determine if tanks could be used on the Salonika front, he concluded that the ground was unsuitable.

 

The Greek front in the Struma valley was very quiet, in contrast the XII Corps front was very active, with harassing fire, bombardments and raids mainly on the 26th/27th Division front either side of the river Vardar throughout the month.

[Gardenerbill]

Autumn Offensive plans

 

The enemy communication hubs at the villages of GRADSKO and KRIVOLAK 35 miles behind the line were key to the success of the autumn offensive, take these and PRILEP, SKOPJE and VELES would all be attainable. There were two obvious approaches to these objectives; east of the river Vardar between the Vardar and Doiran or the MONASTIR PRILEP road. Both these had been previously tried but ended in deadlock.

 

Between the two obvious routes of attack lay the MOGLENA mountains. Here the Bulgarian front line was strong, but due to the difficult ground the Bulgarians were not expecting an attack here and so the second and third lines were weak. Attacking here would be difficult but would offer an element of surprise.

The MOGLENA mountains sector of the line was well supplied by the VERTIKOP rail-head and 60cm light railways. The line here was held by 6 Serbian Divisions who excelled at mountain warfare.

 

The Attack would be launched along a 6-mile section of the line between the VETRANIK and SOKOL mountains and would be carried out by the Serbian 2nd Army, the 17th and 122nd French Divisions with the addition of 80 artillery pieces. The attacking force would consist of 75 battalions, 756 machine guns and 580 guns against 25, 245 and 146 respectively.

After capturing the heights at VETRANIK and SOKOL, the plan was to press on without pause to capture the 2nd line at KOZYAK then move rapidly via the CRNA and Vardar loop to GRADSKO and KRIVOLAK.

[Gardenerbill]

The Autumn Offensive Secondary Attack Plans

 

The British and the Greeks to attack between the river Vardar and Lake Doiran with a flanking attack on the BLAGA PLANINA north east of L Doiran. The Armee D’Orient Francaise to attack on the left flank towards PRILEP. These attacks were primarily to keep enemy forces pinned down the so main attack area could not be reinforced, but to take advantage of a breakthrough if the opportunity arose. Finally, if necessary Greek 1^st Corps were to attack in the Struma valley. As a preliminary the 27^th Division were given the task of capturing a salient in the mountains to the west of the river Vardar known as the Roche Noire.

 

The capture of the Roche Noire Salient 01/09/2018

 

Wire cutting and bombardment of the main line rear of the Roche Noire salient began on August 25^th. The task of capturing the salient was given to 82^nd Brigade, 2^nd Gloucesters and the 10^th Hampshires. The Bulgarians tended to be active in the evenings and at night, they were very quiet in the afternoons and took an average of 4 minutes to start counter battery work, so the decision was made to attack in the afternoon. The Battalions were to be ready in the front line and the barrage would start 6 minutes after the attack began, except for well-placed 6-inch howitzer fire to create a dust screen, this would allow the infantry to advance as far as possible in 10 minutes before the enemy began to respond.

 

The plan worked exceptionally well, with the assaulting troops reaching the Bulgarian front line before the main barrage began, there was however one exception, the 10^th Hampshire reserve company was delayed and they were caught in the open and suffered heavy casualties.

 

On the right, the 2^nd Gloucesters met little resistance and captured MAMELON AUX BUISSONS. On the left, the 10^th Hampshires met some resistance on LES DUEX ROCHE and LA ROCHE NOIRE but took these as well. Casualties started to mount when the Bulgarian barrage shifted to the newly captured positions, one counter attack was repulsed, and the new positions were held.

[Gardenerbill]

On the 2nd Sep the 1st Royal Scots captured works on the VARDAR valley railway at LE CROCHET.

 

Autumn Offensive Opposing Forces

 

The western end of the enemy line was held by what was nominally referred to as the German 11th Army consisting of; 6 Bulgarian Divisions under German command and a 7th Bulgarian division under direct command from army HQ. Then came the Bulgarian 1st Army of 3 Divisions, the Bulgarian 2nd Army also of 3 divisions and the Bulgarian 4th Army of 1 division plus various other formations.

 

The enemy reserves were held at GRADSKO, KRIVOLAK, PRILEP and in the VARDAR valley. additionally, there were 6 Roumanian Landwehr battalions on their way to the Struma valley.

The Allies had 291 Battalions and 1,522 guns, the enemy had 302 Battalions and 1,597 guns, so the opposing forces were very evenly matched, however the allies had Lewis guns and Fusil Mitrailleuse, the enemy had no equivalent guns.

 

Moral was said to be high on the allied side and low on the enemy side and although this is may have been true to an extent, it was probably exaggerated.

[Gardenerbill]

10th September 1918, the British and Italians finally consent to offensive action in the Balkans.

 

The preliminary bombardment of the autumn offensive was planned for 14th September 1918 subject to favourable weather conditions, on the day the weather was good and the bombardment began at 8 am. The enemy reply was described as feeble.

 

On the 15th September at 5.30 am the troops of the Serbian 2nd Army advanced, the west side of VETRENIK was taken quickly but the whole objective was only secured in the afternoon. At 8 a.m. the French 17th Division stormed the KRAVICA and GOLIAK both objectives taken 2 hours later. A Bulgarian counter attack briefly retook KRAVICA before the French drove them out again. On the right the Serbian Sumadija Division took their objective, BOROVA CUKA. At 3.45 pm the French and Serbs stormed KRAVICKI KAMEN. On the French 122nd Division front, the right column quickly overran the Bulgarian front line trenches, and the PYRAMID was taken by 7.30 pm. The French second line assault on P1765 and FORTIN BULGARE was late but the signal to delay the barrage was not sent. A second barrage was organised with all weapons (artillery, trench mortars, MGs etc.) and by 2 p.m. P1765 and FORTIN BULGARE were taken. At the SOKOL the French and Serbs struggled all day against intense machine gun and trench mortar fire, finally taking the summit after dark.

 

The first day had been a complete success with all objectives in the centre taken, casualties were described as heavy but not excessive. To the keep momentum going the Serb Yugoslavian Division pushed through to their start positions during the night ready for the assault on KOZYAK at dawn on the 16th.

[Gardenerbill]

16th September 1918 the battle continued in the Moglena Mountains. The position of the enemy was bad but at this stage still recoverable, they began to withdraw to the 2nd line and bring up reserves. On the left the Serb 1st Army struggled but by 10 a.m. the Drina division had crossed the GRADESNICA river. The Bulgarian Danube division still held on at the CRNA but were becoming isolated. On the right Serbian Morava Division reached the enemy 2nd line.

 

On the night of the 16th the whole second line position from KOZYAK to the CRNA river fell to the Serbians.