The First World War can be said to have started with Austria's ultimatum to Serbia. During the war an allied force of some 500,000 men – Serbs, French, British, Russians, Italians and Greeks faced men of the Bulgarian Army supported by German, Austro-Hungarian and Turkish units. And yet the Salonika Campaign is comparatively little known. This tour gives an opportunity to visit the wonderfully preserved battlefield at Doiran, with its trenches, concrete bunkers and broken terrain. Our guide Alan Wakefield has visited these battlefields many times and his book 'Under the Devil's Eye' reflects his knowledge of the campaigns, the country and the men who fought there. There will be some walking on rough paths and optional tracks up to some of the heights.

The campaign began on 5th October 1915 when British and French divisions began landing at Salonika in Greece, to deter Bulgaria from joining an Austro-German attack on Serbia. They remained to prevent German domination of the Balkans, with allied offensives in 1916 and 1917. On the Doiran battlefield the tangled masses of hills and ravines were covered with three lines of trenches cut from solid rock, concrete machine gun bunkers, artillery positions and many miles of barbed wire. Dominating all from its position near the summit of Grand Couronne was a large observation bunker, 'The Devil's Eye', the remains of which can be seen today.

The British fought twice in this difficult area. Throughout the campaign, living conditions for the soldiers were harsh. Winter brought bone chilling winds and blizzards. Summer came with extreme heat and insects. Disease, especially malaria, caused many more casualties than the fighting. Rations were poor, comforts few and home leave a rarity. British troops felt they were fighting a forgotten war.

Although the landscape is little changed, Macedonia is now a very welcoming place for the visitor, making this an ideal opportunity to discover the story of the Salonika Campaign.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Saturday): Fly London Gatwick to Thessaloniki. Check into our hotel. (2 nights) Evening reception at the Officers club.
Day 2: Drive to Polykastro for Five Nations Ceremony of Commemoration. Lunch in the Officers Mess. Visits to Polykastro CWGC cemetery, the Dragos Battery position in the Struma Valley, Dova Tepe Fort, Struma British Military Cemetery. Group dinner in Thessaloniki.
Day 3: Drive to Doiran, visiting the British Salonika Force memorial and Doiran CWGC cemetery. Check into our hotel for 4 night stay.
Day 4: Walking tour of Doiran battlefield including 22nd division memorial, Grand Couronne and the Devil's Eye observation bunker. Picnic lunch. The former Bulgarian second defence lines including The Hilt and Hill 340. Group dinner.
Day 5: The area of Gradsko/Stobi, including crash site of B12 aircraft shot down in 1917. Group dinner.
Day 6: Walking tour of Kosturino battlefield including Kosturino Ridge, Rocky Peak, Memesli village Crete Rivet and Crete Simonet. Picnic lunch. The 10th Irish division memorial. Group dinner.
Day 7: Drive back to Thessaloniki via Lembet Road Allied Military Cemetery en route (time permitting) Fly Thessaloniki – London Gatwick.