SEPTEMBER 1986 NEWSLETTER

LAST MEETING - JOHANNESBURG - 14TH AUGUST 1986.

The subject of the evening's lecture was "The Greek Campaign, 1944/1945", presented by Cmdt. O. E. F. Baker.

The Germans began to evacuate Greece towards the end of 1944 due to their exposure to the risk of being cut off in the Peloponnese Peninsula by the advancing Russian and Yugoslav forces. Dr. G. A. Christidis provided a brief resume of the political complexities that existed in Greece at the time. The Royalists, Republicans and Communists were all intent on attempting to gain control. Many casualties were incurred, and atrocities committed, in this internecine strife.

In October British forces were landed in Greece. The 2nd Parachute Brigade was dropped at Megara, a difficult landing with many accidental casualties, and rapidly took control of Athens. Upon the arrival of seaborne reinforcements, who were landed in the heavily mined Piraeus harbour, the units of the brigade fanned out to other parts of the country. The British commander was Lieutenant-General R. M. Scobie who previously had been the defender of Tobruk and Malta. He had been the youngest brigade major in France during the First World War.

George Papandreou, the prime minister, arrived to form the new Greek government. General Scobie was ordered to prevent, by force if need be, the People's Liberation Army (E.L.A.S.) from overturning the established system in Greece by absolutely unconstitutional means. On 1st December the Communist Party called a general strike. There was a riot at a public meeting of some 100,000 people and 300 were shot, mainly by police.

A period of intense street fighting in Athens followed. The British were confined to a small section of the city in the vicinity of the Acropolis. As reinforcements arrived the British slowly regained control, tanks having to be used to subdue strong points established in numerous buildings.

At the end of the operations there were more British divisions in Greece than in Italy. The British campaign was shunned by both the U.S.A. and Russia, and was severely criticized by part of the British press and the Labour Party. During their visits to the British forces Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan and Field Marshal Alexander all came under small arms fire. The ferocity of the fighting is proved by the fact that the 2nd Parachute Brigade had heavier casualties in Athens than those incurred at Cassino or in France.

The vote of thanks for an extremely interesting lecture was delivered by Dr. Ron Sinclair.

Future Meetings.

Johannesburg - September 11th Dr. Felix Machanik - "The British Occupation of Canada".

- October 16th - Major D. D. Hall - "The Battle of the Coral Sea."

The venue for the Johannesburg meetings is the J.C. Lemmer Auditorium, S.A. National Museum of Military History, Saxonwold, Johannesburg at 20h00.

Durban

- September 11th Slide show by Ian Sutherland (including Battle of Flodden).

Cape Town

- September 11th Mr. Patrick Cullinan - "Colonel R. J. Gordon and his Diaries".

TOURS.

ULUNDI/VRYHEID AREA - FINAL CALL.

The S.A. National Museum of Military History is organising a battlefield tour to this area during the long weekend of 9th to 12th October 1986. Details are obtainable from the Museum. Several vacancies still exist. If you are interested in attending this tour please contact the Tour Director urgently (tel: nnnnn).

OTHER MATTERS.

BRAAI

The Society is holding its annual braai on 24th October. Please diarise this date. This year is the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Society.

JOURNAL.

The latest issue of the journal has been sent to all paid-up members of the Society. If you have not received your copy please contact Mike Marsh (tel: 648-nnnn).

MILITARY ART LECTURE.

The Museum is holding a lecture on the history of military art on 16th October. Details are available from the Museum.

STEWART STILES.