Monday September 30th, 1918
Gas parade and rifle inspection. Band practice. Played at ?? Proyart.
Continental Clock
The BWD notes that, from October 1st, the British Army will adopt the continental 24 hour clock system. This will not be difficult for the writers of the BWD as they already used this system on the Macedonian Front – presumably because the French were in overarching command of that region.
The big news – not reported here – is that Bulgaria has left the war.
Bulgaria Leaves the War
Since our last report of the military activities on the Macedonian Front, things have been moving at a considerable pace. By September 20th, the Bulgarian and German forces started to withdraw along the whole front. It was an orderly withdrawal, with bunkers and remaining equipment destroyed. This gave an early indication that ‘something momentous was happening:
“It was a never-to-be-forgotten sight. The great P Ridge and the enemy positions to the Vardar and beyond were outlined by the light of huge fires behind. It was dark except for the glare and still and quiet except for the muffled explosions from time to time… it was extraordinary to stand there, weary in mind and body, and attempt to realize what a historic moment it was.”‘¹
General Milne appointed XVI Corps to pursue the enemy into the Strumica Valley. Meanwhile the RAF attacked the Bulgarian troops retreating through the narrow passes of Kresna, Kosturino and Rupel. Simultaneously General Franchet d’Espèrey sent the French North African Cavalry into Serbia to recover Prelip and then Skopje. Despite encountering pockets of resistance and stretched supply lines, by September 25th, the BSF had crossed into Bulgaria. With Allied forces now in their country, the following day Bulgaria sued for peace and at 10:10 on September 29th, 1918, the armistice was signed.
‘Under the conditions imposed by the Allies, Bulgaria will withdraw her forces from the occupied parts of Greece and Serbia, demobilize her army, and surrender all war material and land and water transport to the control of the Allies, who will have a free passage through Bulgaria for military operations.’²
From noon today, Bulgaria will leave the war.
9th Battalion War Diary – 30th September 1918 – Manin
Battalion rested. Operation Order No 5 (Appendix No 10) the Battalion will move to Maricourt tomorrow. The Continental 24 hour clock system will be adopted throughout the British Army from midnight 30-9-18.
The effective strength of the Battalion is 31 Officers and 756 other ranks.
Lt Col JFB Morrell, Cmdg 9th Bn Manchester Regiment.
References & Further Reading
¹ ‘Under the Devil’s Eye: The British Military Experience in Macedonia 1915-18’ by Alan Wakefield and Simon Moody, Pen & Sword, 2011, comment by Major Christopher Hughes, 77 Brigade Staff, Kindle locn 5367
² The Observer, October 1st, 1918 page 5
* Q 31775, copyright Imperial War Museums