Sunday July 7th, 1918
Still hugging sea coast. Still in Italy. March through Faenza. Very nice city.
From Bari to Faenza
This was the longest stage in the journey – covering over 600 kms and has taken the Battalion over 30 hours to complete. The Battalion is late arriving at the planned stopping point and their visit to Faenza is curtailed. While they only managed a short route march through the city – Frank thinks it is a ‘very nice city’.
Faenza’s train station was built in the 1890’s and was on the main train line from Ancona (on the Adriatic Coast) to Bologna. The station was heavily damaged by bombs during WWII and rebuilt in the late 1940’s.¹
Faenza was an ancient city that was famous for its majolica ware. It peaked in significance during the Renaissance of the 15th and early 16th centuries and this is reflected in its architecture. Its cathedral is reminiscent of the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence and contains many treasures.² While Frank has travelled extensively over the last eight months, this is probably the first significant metropolis he has been in since arriving in Salonika town in January.
Along the Adriatic
You will have seen from the map in yesterday’s post that much of the train line to Faenza has been running along the Adriatic coast. In war-time this presented unique challenges to the trains and their passengers alike. This was described by Lt Borgonon when he travelled a similar route in the opposite direction in January 1918:
‘In coming along this coastline, we had to screen all lights and make no noise, the engine keeping her fire box closed and puffing silently and slowly along. Enemy submarines were reported in the Adriatic and the train was in full view for several hours. Hence the necessity for night travel. Another 7 ½ hours and we were at Taranto which we reached at 3.30 p.m. on 1st Feb..’³
Despite this, the Lieutenant’s journey seems to have been achieved more quickly than Frank’s:
‘Having completed the whole journey through France and Italy, a distance of 1414 miles from Cherbourg in 9 days. An average of 160 miles a day or 6 2/3 miles per hour including stops.’³
It was certainly more luxurious, with officers in carriages and others in wagons. This is illustrated in the photograph which shows British officers boarding a train in Italy during WWI.*
13th (Service) Battalion War Diary – 7th July 1918 – Faenza, Italy
Throughout train journey usually three good halts a day where men can have tea and wash and use latrines. A long halt planned for Faenza but our train was late (arriving 16:30 hrs) only time for tea and an hour’s route march through town. Left at 20:12 hrs.
References & Further Reading
¹ Faenza on Wikipedia
² Faenza on Britannica
³ Salonika Diary 1918 by Lt V E Borgonon
* Q 25794 copyright Imperial War Museums