Surrey Yeomanry

Sketch by Lieut F.A. Stewart of a Surrey Yeomanry patrol observing the village of Salmah in the Struma valley

The Surrey Yeomanry were mobilised in December 1914, in 1915 A and B squadrons both took part in the second battle of Ypres before leaving France at the end of the year, B squadron arriving in Salonika December 1915 and A in February 1916. C squadron never served in the Balkan theatre.

As soon as A squadron arrived they were out on patrol, Initially in the Langaza plain, with troops going north to Nigrita and the Struma Valley and south to Tuzla and the Struma estuary. Meanwhile B squadron were patrolling along the Seres road from Kukus to Lahana and Suho. As the months went by A squadron ventured further east to Angista, Drama and Kavala with a brief to keep watch on the Greek army and B headed north up the Struma Valley to Kopriva, Prosenik, Demirhissar & Seres.

By August 1916 a new line had been established on the left bank of the River Struma and A squadron had been joined by the 27th Division cyclists, patrolling the right bank of the river. By now the Bulgarians were advancing across the Greek border, the first enemy engagement for B squadron came on 4th August 1916 when a patrol to Butkova ran into Bulgarian Infantry. Towards the end of 1916 encounters with the Bulgarians were becoming more frequent, A squadron coming under heavy fire on the 3rd of September in the Struma valley near the white house. As well as regular patrolling, both squadrons distinguished themselves providing flank support of brigade actions to clear villages in the Struma valley.

At the end of 1916 the surrey yeomanry along with the Derbyshire Yeomanry and the division cyclist battalions formed the 16th Corps cavalry. In 1917 the focus of attention was on the offensive actions to the west and the first battle of Doiran, with only minor diversionary actions in the Struma valley. The Surreys continued to patrol the Struma valley keeping villages along the out-post line clear and supporting infantry actions.

In 1918 the Greeks had joined the war on the allied side, Greek officers began to accompany patrols and the Greek army started to take over part of the line. In July the Surreys moved to Krusha sector east of Lake Doiran and began preparations for the planned Autumn offensive. In September while 12th Corps were fighting the Bulgarians in the second battle of Doiran, the Surreys were ready to follow the Greek Cretan Divisions attack on the Blaga Planina east of Lake Doiran. The attack failed, but then the Bulgarians began to withdraw and the Surreys found themselves supporting the Greeks and the 16th Corps advance into the Blaga Planina mountains. When the armistice was signed the Surreys had advanced through the mountains as far as Strumica.