14 replies to this topic

[Simon127]

Hi All,


Am trying to find out a bit more about to what extent the British fought against the Austrian army in direct conflict.  I think that British units were engaged in combat in the Salonika and Italian campaigns to some extent but would like to find out a bit more.  

Any info most welcome.


Cheers,



Simon

[michaeldr]

Simon,

Austrian artillery reached the Gallipoli peninsula just a couple of months before that campaign was wound down. They were able to get there only once Bulgaria had entered the war and provided the link between the various rail systems.

Austrian units, again notably artillery, were also operating with the Ottoman forces in Palestine

regards
Michael

[michaeldr]

link
follow the above link and have a look at photographs Nos. 32, 80 to 95, & 142 for a glimpse of Austrians with the Turks in Palestine

[Tom W.]

Simon127, on 22 February 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

Am trying to find out a bit more about to what extent the British fought against the Austrian army in direct conflict.  I think that British units were engaged in combat in the Salonika and Italian campaigns to some extent but would like to find out a bit more.  

Any info most welcome.

Expedition Pascha II of the German Asia Corps, which was attached to Turkish Army Group Yilderim, included Austrian Motor Mortar Battery No. 9, Howitzer Battery No. 36, and Mountain Artillery Regiment Nos. 4 and 6.

The British engaged Pascha II at Beersheba on October 31, 1917, and the Third Battle of Gaza, October 31-November 7, 1917. The Battle of Megiddo, September 19-25, 1918, resulted in the destruction of the Turkish Seventh and Eighth Armies and the full retreat of the Fourth Army. After advancing nearly 300 miles, the British had taken more than 75,000 prisoners, 360 guns, and all of the Turks' transport equipment, for a loss of 5720 men. The Germans and Austrians of Pascha II tried to conduct a fighting retreat to Damascus but were cut off. Most were captured or killed.

Here's a BBC report on the BEF(Italy):

http://news.bbc.co.u...ent/9522135.stm

And here's an undated photo I have of a British soldier taken in Italy, since it says "Cartolina Postale" on the back. I'm not a British cap-badge guy, so I can't tell you his unit or his rank, although I find the necktie and jacket unusual.

Attached Files

•  Italy.jpg   43.95K   0 downloads

[truthergw]

I don't do cap badges but he looks like he is wearing hospital blues.

[skipman]

Could it be the Lincolnshire Regt?

Mike

[TRAJAN]

I don't do cap badges either but that looks like a sphinx to me...

Trajan

[Tom W.]

TRAJAN, on 23 February 2012 - 01:46 AM, said:

I don't do cap badges either but that looks like a sphinx to me...

It does look like a sphinx.

Attached Files

•  Badge.jpg   23.71K   0 downloads

[SteveE]

It looks like the Gloucestershire Regiment badge with the scroll removed.

Steve

[generalist]

Simon127, on 22 February 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

Hi All,


Am trying to find out a bit more about to what extent the British fought against the Austrian army in direct conflict.  I think that British units were engaged in combat in the Salonika and Italian campaigns to some extent but would like to find out a bit more.  

The two major battles involving British forces in Italy were Piave (June 1918) and Vittorio Veneto (October-November 1918), both against Austrian units. The 7th, 23rd and 48th Divisions took part in these; the 5th and 41st also spent periods in Italy, but were withdrawn during early 1918.

- Andrew.

[centurion]

There were some KuK troops at the siege of Tsien Tsing (its late accept my spelling) in which some British troops took part. The RNAS armoured cars in Russia also engaged KuK troops

[nigelfe]

'Austrian' has two meanings in WW1, literally Austria and as shorthand for the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian empire.  Would you call the Kings African Rifles 'British Troops'?

[centurion]

nigelfe, on 25 February 2012 - 03:09 AM, said:

'Austrian' has two meanings in WW1, literally Austria and as shorthand for the multi-ethnic Austro-Hungarian empire.  Would you call the Kings African Rifles 'British Troops'?

Yes

[nigelfe]

I wouldn't just as I wouldn't call the Indian troops British troops, although I would call them British Forces.  Same with the French colonial troops.

[Simon127]

Thanks chaps and sorry for the late reply.  I know one German general described fighting together with the Austrians as like being 'manacled to a corpse'.  Rather unkind if you ask me; they always look pretty fearsome fellows in period photos and what with those huge trench knives they were issued....

Thanks for the input - I can hopefully do a bit more research from here.

Simon