Balkan Purgatory - the 60th (London) Division in Salonika - December 1916 - June 1917

This is a case study of the British Army’s operations in Macedonia which looks at patrolling and raiding operations through the lens of Callwell’s ‘Small Wars’ paradigm. The nature of operations in this theatre were a function of the geography and its status as a backwater despite its strategic relevance. It looks at 60 (2nd/2nd London) Division who had spent 5 months on Vimy Ridge where it learnt and adapted before spending six months in Macedonia. This experience equipped it well for its excellent performance in the Palestine Campaign. The Division does not normally feature in consideration of divisional performance, a debate which is focused on the Western Front, but there is a strong case for arguing that it had become an elite division by 1918.

Our speaker is Charles Fair.   The talk is the subject of a chapter in his co-edited two volume set, London Pride: The London Territorial Force in Peace and War 1908-1921 [Helion, 2025 (Vol 1) and 2026 (Vol 2)] and includes pictures from his own visits to these battlefields.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.