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These two Battalions however, side by side pressed on to the top of Hill 70, when another counter-attack forced them back. A third attempt was being made when the Turks set fire to the scrub and many wounded men were burnt to death. Many actus of individual gallantry, in attempting to save wounded men were performed, but unfortunately few could be saved owing to the rapidity with which the scrub burned - a fairly high wind prevailing - both Battalions lost heavily.

One of the scrub covered hills around Suvla Bay, similar to Hill 70 described above.

Well that's a fresh new horror.

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These two Battalions however, side by side pressed on to the top of Hill 70, when another counter-attack forced them back. A third attempt was being made when the Turks set fire to the scrub and many wounded men were burnt to death. Many actus of individual gallantry, in attempting to save wounded men were performed, but unfortunately few could be saved owing to the rapidity with which the scrub burned - a fairly high wind prevailing - both Battalions lost heavily.

One of the scrub covered hills around Suvla Bay, similar to Hill 70 described above.

Well that's a fresh new horror.

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Giving up chemical warfare for Lent

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A battalion machine gun officer of the 3rd Division (Australia) employing a captured German Maxim as an antiaircraft gun. Marett Wood, Somme. 5 May 1918

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German two-tiered dugout on the Western Front, 1915

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The ration biscuit takes various forms, some of which are small and palatable, but the type most frequently met with in Gallipoli was large and square, possessing the appearance of a dog biscuit and the consistency of a rock. It was no doubt of excellent nutritive quality, but, unfortunately, no ordinary pair of teeth was able to cope with it. Some spread jam upon it, and then licked the surface, thereby absorbing a few crumbs; others soaked it in tea (when there was any); while a few pounded it between two stones, and found that the result did not make bad porridge. - Major Bryan Cooper

The universally loathed hardtack. The Australian War Memorial actually has a lovely little collection of hardtack dating back to the Boer War. There's also some excellent hardtack art.

Hardtack picture frame

Hardtack Victoria Cross

Hardtack christmas card

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Despatch riders always got the drip

Dispatch riders in WWII England

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absolutely.

Matter of fact, I'm in the trenches right now

anywhere can be the trenches with the right mindset

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Turkish Despair. Dope name.

Yep, really fits in with the aesthetic.

I think we usually call that neighbourhood the Balkans.

Well that's an appropriately depressing end to that little vignette.

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Turkish Despair. Dope name.

Yep, really fits in with the aesthetic.

I think we usually call that neighbourhood the Balkans.

Well that's an appropriately depressing end to that little vignette.

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…I dined with some other people to celebrate the presentation of a medal to our vet. A wonderful decoration given to him by the Minister of Agriculture of France for services rendered to agriculture.  Nobody knows quite what he has done except put a lot of horses out of their misery. However it was a good gathering with cheap champagne from the local wine shop in which by the way I am billeted.

Major Carr on some of the benefits of being a staff officer, 27 April 1917.

“services rendered to agriculture”

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A woman moving to another village takes with her the bones of her dead son, decorated with marigolds, the native mourning flower, Balkan Front, June 1916.

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That looks awesome, I can't wait to see how you go with it.

I'm loving your blog! I had never really focused on WWI, since that's way out of my period, but since I found out that the archaeological site where I'm working in Greece was part of the Struma front, I've really got into it. This year I hope to organise two campaigns to locate Bulgarian and British trenches around Amphipolis!

Thanks!

That sounds super cool, I'd love to see any photos you've got of the digs.

You might also be interested in this post that's more Salonika front archaeology.

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I'm loving your blog! I had never really focused on WWI, since that's way out of my period, but since I found out that the archaeological site where I'm working in Greece was part of the Struma front, I've really got into it. This year I hope to organise two campaigns to locate Bulgarian and British trenches around Amphipolis!

Thanks!

That sounds super cool, I'd love to see any photos you've got of the digs.

You might also be interested in this post that's more Salonika front archaeology.

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The carpenter of an Indian transport camp smokes a home-made pipe, constructed from a pickle jar, a tin funnel and two hollow canes, August 1916.

Ya know what, good for him.

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A British officer of the Army Veterinary Corps in Salonika with his pets which included two jackdaws, a wild goose, a wolf cub and an Alsatian dog, August 1916.

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Another one from the scrapbook of Lt-Gen MacMunn. No signature, no caption, just a beautiful watercolour.