SOFO Museum online talk: 27 October 2022

​

The next online talk explores the experience of Oxfordshire men fighting in the Great War’s ‘forgotten army’ in Salonika​

 

In the next online talk hosted by the Soldiers of Oxfordshire (SOFO) Museum, to be streamed alongside a live Q&A on Thursday 27 October at 7pm, Alan Wakefield will detail the campaign of the British Salonika Force during WW1, including the part played by soldiers of the county.

 

Though now a forgotten front, during the Great War large numbers of British and allied troops were tied up in the strategically vital Balkans. The county regiment, The Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, would send two battalions from the Western Front to see out the remainder of their service in the campaign.

 

Alan Wakefield has researched the lesser-known Salonika Campaign in every detail, from the arrival of the first British troops in 1915 to final victory. He is head of the First World War and Early Twentieth Century team at IWM and co-authored "Under the Devil's Eye: Britain's Forgotten Army at Salonika 1915-1918".

 

Using first-hand accounts, Alan paints a vivid picture of life for the British Army while there. Learn of the disappointments of the British XII Corps offensive in April/May 1917 (The First Battle of Doiran) and the more successful aggressive raiding in the Struma Valley.

 

The talk, followed by a live Question & Answer session, will be streamed freely (no ticket or sign-up required) from the SOFO website, but donations will be welcomed from those wishing to support the museum.

 

Like all previous online talks the museum has hosted, an archived feed of the talk and recorded Q&A will also remain available from the museum website after the live event ends.

​

Stream link: https://www.sofo.org.uk/whats-on/salonika/