Back from Salonkia

Alfred Walter Reed Lewis (my Great Grandfather in Law,) serving with A company of the 41^st Field Butchery in the Army Service Corps, had been stationed in Salonkia, Greece since October 1915.

In December 1915 the British element fought a battle at Kosturino, north of Lake Doiran,

However, the intervention came too late to save Serbia and after a brief winter campaign in severe weather conditions on the Serbian frontier, the Anglo-French forces found themselves back at Salonika.

At this point the British advised that the troops be withdrawn. However, the French - with Russian, Italian and Serbian backing - still believed something of strategic importance could be gained in the Balkans and started preparing the port of Salonika for defence.

Alfred had suffered with heart trouble since he was 16, often becoming short of breath during periods of physical exertion and whilst doing heavy work at Salonkia in November his heart began to trouble him again.

He was posted back to England arriving on home shores on the 30^th January 1915, 100 years ago today. He was hospitalised and diagnosed with Valvular Heart Disease (Mitral).

Landing in Salonika

In October 1915 a combined Franco-British force of some two large brigades was landed at Salonika (today called Thessalonika) at the request of the Greek Prime Minister. The objective was to help the Serbs in their fight against Bulgarian aggression.

Arriving with them was Pte. Alfred Walter Read Lewis, a butcher from Hackney, serving with A Company of the Army Service Corps. He had been assigned to the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force since 22nd July 1915

His youngest daughter Jessie Lily Lewis who had been born in April 1915 and was just one month old when Alfred enlisted with the Army Service Corps on the 1st May, had passed away between May and June 1915.

The expedition however arrived too late, the Serbs having been beaten before they landed. It was decided to keep the force in place for future operations.