CHAPTER VII

A YEAR AT SALONICA

I. THE 2ND BATTALION

It is advisable now to consider the doings of the 2nd Battalion in the immediate neighbourhood of Salonica. The life in this theatre of war was far less full of exciting incident than in France and Flanders, and, after their thrilling experiences in the latter theatre, those men of the Buffs that were still serving in the 2nd Battalion must have looked upon their new work in the light almost of a rest from war, though not from the labour and hardships incidental to it.

Early in the year 1916 the army was contracted into a small line just north of Salonica and was merely a defensive force guarding that base port, but Lt.-General Sir G. F. Milne arranged in May with the French General, Sarrail, that there should be an advance northwards and a greater area occupied, the British army taking the ground to the north and east, and the French the western area. On the 8th of June, therefore, the troops commenced to occupy advanced positions along the right bank of the River Struma and its tributary the Butkova river. In connection with this movement the 85th Brigade, and of course the Buffs with it, brought to an end what was becoming a somewhat monotonous life and, on the 10th June, was ordered to hold forward positions along the right bank of the Struma, with its right on Orljak.

Therefore, on the 17th of the month, the Buffs found themselves at a point three kilometres (say two and a half miles) west of Kopriva, with orders to take up an outpost line to cover the crossings of the Struma.

The line taken up by the regiment was about six kilometres long, and as the hills come practically down to the stream, these formed natural positions to take up and indeed had already been used by the French, who had sited and just started a certain number of trenches, which it was decided to complete. The river was found to be fordable almost everywhere. Opposite the battalion front and some seven or eight miles away was the town of Demirhissar, which was occupied by the enemy. The battalion remained in this position till the 15th July and, though there was no actual fighting to do, another enemy soon became very troublesome indeed: the heat down near the river was intense and the local fever soon made itself apparent. This took the form of very high temperatures, very suddenly developed, and was of such common occurrence that the Field Ambulance became congested and the evacuation of the sick a matter of great difficulty. Further, the Buffs were without their Medical Officer for about a week.

The welcome order to move to higher ground came on the 9th July, but it was not till the 15th that the Buffs were relieved by the K.O.Y.L.I., who belonged to the 83rd Brigade. Then they marched to Paprat, a two days’ journey, where an excellent bivouac ground was found and where the weather conditions were very much better. Yet malaria has a nasty way of getting into a man’s system at malarial places and only showing itself later on, probably in a healthy country, and the sickness for the first few days at Paprat only increased instead of diminishing; four officers and many men going sick in the first ten days. On the 30th the battalion moved to Hamzali for work on the roads and to take up a section of outpost line. This place is situated on the same range of hills as Paprat, but is nearer the river. The battalion still continued to lose officers and men from fever. Two companies worked at headquarters and two were in the outpost line employed on the defences there.

Away off to the left and near the Doiran lake the British and French commenced a successful offensive on the 10th August, and this lasted for a week, resulting in the capture of some important positions. While these events were still in progress, the Bulgarians in the Struma valley began to advance, to be accurate on the 17th August. They did so apparently in seven columns, three of them moving southward from Demirhissar towards the Struma river. On the 18th an observation post in the outpost line reported seeing a battalion occupy the village of Barakli Dzuma and a considerable force with guns and transport moving in the direction of Seres. As these movements of enemy troops continued on the following day, and as on the 20th considerable activity of small bodies of mounted men were noticed, apparently reconnoitring the river about Ormanli, and as there was a considerable amount of shelling on this date, Elishan, a village on the further bank of the Struma, was occupied by a company of English infantry.

It appeared at this time to be probable that the Bulgarians might be bold enough to assault the British lines, and every effort was being made to strengthen the defences of the outpost line. The Buffs were terribly weak in numbers. Available men for drafts were, of course, just now required in every part of the world. The Somme offensive was in full swing and men were being killed and maimed there daily. Sickness had thinned the ranks of the 2nd Battalion to a terrible extent, and at the moment when a Bulgarian attack appeared imminent it could only place 185 men in the outpost line with 45 in reserve, though a welcome reinforcement of 123 arrived on the 30th of the month. However, two machine guns from the M.G. Company were attached to the battalion and the defence works were kept in repair and ready for emergency.

[Illustration:

_Imperial War Museum_ _Crown Copyright_

SALONICA: ROAD MADE BY BRITISH]

The line held by our troops was an exceedingly good one for defence, for the hills on our side approached very closely to the river and there was a broad, level plain on the other, so that it was difficult for the enemy to manœuvre unwatched and unnoted. The last day of August brought the welcome news that at last Roumania had made up her mind and had declared war on Austria. In announcing this important event to his troops the G.O.C. stated a hope that all ranks would realize that one of the most important aims in the military policy adopted in this region had been attained and he congratulated all ranks on the part they had played in achieving this object.

Passive defence by an enterprising army is only resorted to on very rare occasions, in the presence at some particular point of an overwhelming force, and the 10th September showed a renewal of activity on the English part. On this day detachments crossed the river at five several points. The villages of Oraoman and Kato Gudeli were occupied and Nevoljen gallantly stormed by the Northumberland Fusiliers. On the 15th six small columns crossed between Lake Tahinos and Orljak and burnt the riparian villages, the enemy’s counter-attacks being defeated by our artillery on the hither side, but the Buffs appear to have been too weak to take part in these minor operations.

II. ACTION OF KARAJAKOI

But when October came, General Milne determined on a continuous offensive on the Struma front, with a view to preventing the enemy from withdrawing any of his troops from this direction to oppose the advance of our French allies towards Monastir. Therefore matters became more active along the river banks and operations commenced by our seizing and holding certain villages on the left side of the river in the neighbourhood of the bridgehead opposite Orljak, so that a further movement on Seres or Demirhissar could be facilitated. The high ground on our side of the stream again came in very useful, for it enabled the artillery very materially to assist in these operations. Bridges were constructed by the engineers, and during the night of the 29th/30th September the attacking infantry crossed and formed up on the left bank. Strong counter-attacks were made by the enemy, but, by the evening of the 2nd October, our positions were consolidated and preparations made to extend them by capturing Jenikoj on the road to Seres. This was done on the morning of the 3rd, but the troops that took the village were three times resolutely counter-attacked and very heavily bombarded, and there ensued some very strenuous fighting. On the 5th October Nevoljen was occupied, and on the 8th our troops had reached a still further extended line with mounted men between Kispeki and Kalendra.

In connection with all this business the Buffs on the 2nd October were attached to the 84th Brigade as divisional reserve and proceeded to a camp in the vicinity of Orljak, and on the next day B and C Companies under Captain Vertue moved off and reported to the officer commanding the Welch Regiment, who directed B Company, less fifty men, to line the right bank of the river from the new pontoon bridge to the left of the 23rd Welch Pioneers. The remaining fifty, under 2nd Lieut. Steven, carried R.E. stores to the Suffolk Regiment in Mazirko village. C Company crossed Orljak bridge and took up a position in the bridgehead works under the Suffolk Regiment and were employed in carrying up rations and stores. These two companies came under both shell and rifle fire.

On the 4th October C Company took over part of the front-line trench from A Company of the Suffolks, and it was soon after joined by B, and later in the day the whole battalion was collected in the forward trenches in relief of the Suffolks and occupied a position along the Seres road on the south side of it. On the Buffs’ left was the 1st Welch Regiment, and on its right the 10th Division, which held Jenikoj.

The 5th was a fairly quiet day, and on the 6th, as it appeared that the Bulgars had withdrawn their position some distance, the Buffs sent out three patrols under 2nd Lieut. Abbot-Smith, 2nd Lieut. Asprey and Lieut. Bremner in the directions of Nevoljen, Papolova and Kalendra respectively. These patrols did their work well, and indeed Bremner and Asprey’s reports were both commended by the brigadier: they all succeeded in locating the enemy, and after that they retired correctly, having first exchanged a few shots. It was now clear that the enemy’s forward line was still about Nevoljen and Kalendra.

The next few days were quiet enough; much reconnaissance work was carried out, and on the 10th the Buffs re-crossed the river to their old camp, on being relieved by Northumberland Fusiliers. After some days’ training, the battalion commenced, on the 24th, to furnish large parties, each under an officer, in connection with the making and defending the several bridges which now spanned the Struma. The river was at this time considerably swollen, and the bridges, which were a necessary adjunct to the commander’s contemplated further offensive, were consequently difficult to construct; indeed, the work reflected the greatest credit on the Royal Engineers.

III. BARAKLI DZUMA

Constant reconnaissance, chiefly by aeroplane and armoured cars, had revealed the fact that the enemy had constructed a defensive line along the foothills on the left side of the river as far as Savjak and from there across the low ground to Lake Butkova. This line passed through the large village of Barakli Dzuma, and this village it was determined to capture.

The attack, which was a complete success, was carried out on the 31st October; Lieut. Sebastian with two platoons of D Company taking over Kopriva bridgehead trenches, whilst A Company and the other half of D were in reserve in camp; B and C Companies had proceeded to Ormanli the previous day to act as carrying parties for the 83rd Brigade. It commenced at 7.15 in the morning with an artillery bombardment which lengthened its range at 7.45, at which hour the infantry advanced. B and C Companies of the Buffs followed immediately behind the firing line carrying barbed wire, stakes, etc., and for the remainder of the day these two companies continued to carry up stores into the front line. C Company had one man killed and two wounded. B also had had two men wounded during the previous night. At 8 p.m. the battalion collected at Ormanli and reported to the 84th Brigade, and as there were no special orders the men proceeded to find billets for the night. On the 1st November the Buffs moved over the river again, and the next day an interesting official summary of the operations against Barakli Dzuma was issued, by which it appeared that the success was scored with comparatively little loss. In fact, the casualty list, when compared with those in France and Flanders, was a very short one. In the whole force 5 officers and 50 men had been wounded and only 15 killed outright. About 300 prisoners had been taken. This summary put on record that the work parties supplied by the 85th Brigade worked and carried splendidly.

For the winter months a new defensive line was now arranged. This was on the left or further bank of the Struma and stretching from Lake Tahinos to the Struma beyond the bend where the Butkova joins it; it included in its course the villages of Jenikoj, Nevoljen and Barakli Dzuma.

On the 3rd November the 85th Brigade took over the defences of Barakli Dzuma, the Buffs being in the front-line trenches, D Company supporting the other three. A certain amount of the usual reconnaissance work incidental to all trench warfare formed the only excitement the battalion had during the first half of November, but on the 16th the enemy demonstrated against our part of the line with considerable shell and rifle fire, and at one time it seemed as if he were about to attack in earnest.

Some of our reconnoitring parties had, early in the month, discovered the existence of a small enemy’s trench on the western side of a nullah known as “Sandy Brook,” and about one thousand five hundred yards from our line. One or two unsuccessful attempts by small parties had been made to capture this, but without success, and the place became famous in its way under the name of “Little Ferdy” trench. On the 17th November A Company was told off to attack “Little Ferdy” in earnest: two platoons went out in front line and two in close support; there were also two platoons of C Company in reserve. On being attacked, however, the Bulgars withdrew to another trench about three hundred yards back, leaving six dead behind them. Patrols went on to examine this new position, which was found to be too strong to be assaulted with the men available, and as the objective had been gained no further advance was made; the Buffs’ losses were one killed and three wounded.

On the 19th November news arrived of the capture of Monastir. The battalion remained at Barakli Dzuma till the end of the year 1916 and passed Christmas there. The time was spent mainly in making and perfecting the line of defence, digging communication trenches and placing barbed wire. The only event which is worthy of record occurred on the 16th December: an extensive and carefully planned-out raid was organized on “Little Ferdy” trench. B Company was selected to form the main raiding party and was supported by flank guards and, of course, by artillery, as well as by the usual supports in rear. The 3rd Middlesex operated on the Buffs’ right and the 2nd East Surrey on the left. At 2 a.m. the front line advanced, lay down and opened fire, while the flanking party went to cut wire and attack the enemy right flank. This detachment, however, met with considerable opposition from a strong bombing post, and the result was a quarter of an hour’s bombing competition which ended in our favour; for the enemy withdrew, leaving twenty to thirty dead; but Captain Lancaster, who commanded the main attack, was all the while expecting a signal from 2nd Lieut. Keasley of the flank guard that he was through, and not getting it, he reported the fact to Battalion Headquarters. The commanding officer (Lt.-Colonel H. A. Thewles) accordingly gave orders to Lancaster to advance, which was done, and the barbed wire in front proving to be only a single fence of no great proportions, both “Little Ferdy” and what was known as “Dry” trench were taken. As ordered, the company proceeded another fifty yards and lay down while the supporting platoon broke up the barbed wire and damaged the trenches as much as possible. Captain Lancaster then withdrew his men, and the flank guards were also brought in. The work done by the other flank guard under Lieut. Williams had been most useful and, of course, the assistance of the good gunners, the 75th Battery, invaluable. Lieut. Sebastian, Sgt. Spiller and L.-Corpl. Geohegan did very excellent service, and were awarded the D.S.O., M.M. and D.C.M. respectively. Our casualties were five men killed, and 2nd Lieut. Airey, C.S.M. Standford and eight other ranks wounded.

[Illustration: VALLEY OF THE STRUMA]