24/10/2026
October 1917, during WW1 saw the men of 2nd Bn. Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders conduct a daring night operation on the oft forgotten front of the war, Salonika.
As the great battles of the Western Front and the Russian Revolution captured much of the focus and attention in 1917, the neglected Allied troops of the Salonika front carried on as usual, making the most of what little resources they had. In such an environment, innovation and daring were the order of the day. So it was for the 2nd Camerons. Command wanted to reorganize the defensive line, pushing it forward slightly, and constructing mutually supporting redoubts. The idea was that rather than over stretching their limited manpower trying to man every inch of the line, the series of defensive strong points would enable a much more concentrated defence. Of course, their Bulgarian foe would hardly allow such defenses to be built under their noses. So, a temporary blocking line to cover the construction was required. Enter the 2nd Camerons.
The battalion’s mission was to secure the town Homondos to order to screen the construction of the redoubts in their sector. The battalion’s officers agreed that a daylight attack was out of the question, it would achieve nothing more than getting good men killed. Instead, they opted to attempt a night attack. In the days leading up to their mission, the 2nd Camerons send patrols behind enemy lines at night to scout and map routes to their target, marking enemy positions and strongpoints. The gathered intelligence was relayed back to every man in the battalion, and everyone was clear on the lay of the ground and what the key aim of the mission was.
The operation began during the night of the 13th October, with the Camerons crossing over no man’s land, passing over and through the identified weak spots in the Bulgarian front line, and moving into the rear areas. The advance was not completely unnoticed, as the Camerons did encounter a few stray patrols, but quick-fire fights scattered them easily enough.
So it was that the garrison at Homondos was completely surprised when the Camerons assaulted them from the rear, the town being secured before dawn. 120 Bulgarian troops were killed and 152 were taken prisoner all for just 39 casualties among the Camerons.
It was highly successful operation indeed; the blocking positions were established and the new defensive redoubts constructed successfully. Above all else it had showcased how skilled the 2nd Camerons had become in the art of reconnaissance, moving at night, and other elements of field craft that had become essential to being effective in Salonika.
If anyone has ancestors who served with 2nd Camerons or their Allied comrades in Salonika during WW1, please do share your stories in the comments.
