Then began a march which few who took part in will ever forget. The reception camp was on the slopes of Mount Hymettus, about ten miles distant from Piraeus, and the route to it passed through the streets of Athens. ‘The people lined the streets all the way,’ writes Sergeant Bell,

Sgt N. C. Bell, m.i.d.; Auckland; born Auckland, 14 Sep 1915; traffic officer.

The camp at Mount Hymettus stood amid groves of pine trees and commanded a magnificent view of the city. It was open to visitors who arrived and departed continuously in large numbers. Among them came the German consul, ostensibly to perform a conventional duty, but actually, no doubt, to do some spying on his own account. Only the fact that Germany and Greece were not yet at war allowed a situation so grotesque. During the three days' stay at Hymettus leave was given to all men who could be spared, but there was much work to be done. The Thermopylae, carrying the battalion's transport, had arrived at Piraeus late on the 18th. The vehicles had been driven to Hymettus and were now being loaded ready for the impending northward move.

Soon after dawn on 21 March the transport, accompanied by the Anti-Aircraft Platoon, started off on its 300-mile journey, leaving the main body of troops to follow by train. The convoy, of which 24 Battalion's transport formed only a part, consisted of 220 vehicles in all under the command of Major Mantell- Harding. Moving off along the Athens-Corinth road, they took three-quarters of an hour to pass the starting point and stretched out for a distance of 22 miles. The first day the column covered 100 miles and stayed for the night at Kamena Voula, a village near the Aegean coast south-east of Lamia. Scarcely were the vehicles parked under cover in an olive grove when peasants began to appear with gifts of cheese and a heavy, sweet wine known as mavrodaphne. Mantell-Harding and his officers were seized upon and lavishly entertained by the staff of a neighbouring military hospital, and escaped only with difficulty to snatch a few hours' sleep before resuming the journey at dawn. The route now led over rolling hills north of Lamia and out on to the plains of Larissa. Small belts of green crop spaced among ploughed soil of varying colours gave the cultivated slopes the appearance of a patchwork quilt. Villages nestled in unlikely, scarcely accessible spots. The land was open and unfenced; there seemed to be a complete absence of stock; but apart from effects wrought by usage to which they were strange, the New Zealanders saw many points of likeness between this country and their own. The hills south of Elasson, soon to be revisited under more arduous conditions, were bare of cover, and vehicles had to be widely dispersed when they halted there on the night of 22-23 March. Snow-capped Mount Olympus was not far away and there was a frosty nip in the air. Next day the first 15 miles were fairly good going, and then the convoy began a steep climb over the pass that ran west of the summit of Olympus and down on to the seaward plains to the north of it. Though the road was a severe test for drivers there were no accidents, but the convoy got strung out over a great distance. The first vehicles, which had not been expected till the afternoon, arrived in Katerine at 11.30 a.m., and the last not until 4.30 p.m. The main body of 24 Battalion was already there awaiting them.

After the transport had begun its overland journey on 21 March, the battalion's rifle companies and Bren carriers had been accorded something in the nature of a Roman triumph as they marched to the railway station through the streets of Athens. To their surprise the troops were entrained in horse vans, while the carriers were loaded in flat trucks, one man riding with each carrier. The horse vans were clean and not overcrowded, but in any case the novelty of this mode of travel and the wayside scenery with its ever-changing landscapes made amends for any slight discomfort. At every station on the way Greeks crowded round the train to welcome their new allies. Rail and road followed the same general line of direction as far north as Larissa, but beyond that town the railway continued on through the Peneios Gorge and out on to the narrow coastal strip east of Mount Olympus, while the road branched off westwards. North of Olympus the country opened out into an undulating, partially wooded plain, in the centre of which stood the little town of Katerine; and there the battalion detrained after a journey of rather more than twenty-four hours. The men were billeted in the town and the transport dispersed in an adjacent orchard. Here they remained for two days, and here the first life was lost when Private McKay,

Pte S. E. McKay; born NZ 30 May 1910; brewery hand; died on active service 24 Mar 1941.

At the time of 24 Battalion's arrival at Katerine a German army, estimated at 19 divisions, was concentrated in Bulgaria. Faced by the threat of surprise attack, the Allies took up their position along a general line stretching from the mouth of the Aliakmon River in the Gulf of Salonika, westwards through Veria and Edessa, and thence to the frontier of Yugoslavia, at this time an unknown quantity as regards military assistance. The right sector of this, the Aliakmon Line, extending from the coast at Neon Elevtherokhorion about 16 miles due east to Elafina, was held by 19 Greek Division. It was at first intended that the New Zealand Division, gradually concentrating north of Katerine, should occupy a defensive position between the 19th and the 12th and 20th Greek Divisions which were farther inland. Later it was decided that the 19th would be released for operations farther north, and that the New Zealand Division should hold the sector between the coast and 12 Division. First to move into the line, 4 Brigade was already in position by 27 March, while 6 Brigade was still moving up. Fifth Brigade, last to sail from Egypt, was only now arriving and beginning to concentrate in the Olympus Pass, south of Katerine.

Sixth Brigade was to occupy the right or coastal sector of the New Zealand Division's front. In conformity with this intention, 24 Battalion left Katerine on 24 March and came to Stavros, a small village some five miles to the north, where the men bivouacked in scrub-covered country for two days, and then moved again on the 26th to the vicinity of Sphendami. This village lay only a few miles south of the line on which it was intended to fight a delaying action, and Colonel Shuttle- worth went forward next day to reconnoitre the position his men would shortly take over from a battalion of 19 Greek Division. The Greek battalion commander, however, for reasons that never clearly emerged, was unwilling that any other troops should move into the area for which he was responsible. His attitude caused some bewilderment and was the subject of a message from 6 Brigade to Divisional Headquarters, but when finally the New Zealanders advanced to take over, he and his men had evacuated their positions and moved forward into Thrace.

Scarcely more than a mile apart, the three villages—Neon Elevtherokhorion, Skala Elevtherokhorion, and Pal Elevthero- khorion—lay close to the railway line running along the eastern seaboard of Greece, fronting the Gulf of Salonika. Shuttle- worth took up his headquarters in the school at Pal, southernmost of the three, with Headquarters Company billeted close by. The rifle companies took up positions astride the railway and main north road, with their right flank on the sea coast and their left at a point about four miles inland, where a junction was made with 25 Battalion. On its left the 25th made contact with 4 Brigade. The 19th and 26th Battalions (each less one company) had been sent back to the Olympus Pass on 27 March to begin digging defensive positions for 5 Brigade. The sector for which the New Zealand Division was responsible was of immense length, about 28,000 yards. To hold this front, 4 and 6 Brigades had seven battalions less three detached companies. The battalions took up positions for all-round defence on spurs and high ground, with companies in reserve, ready to counter-attack if necessary. The left or inland portion of this sector was convenient for defence. A sharp ridge ran parallel to the front, and from this ridge well-wooded spurs and gullies branched out to the north. On the right, however, the country was open and suitable for the deployment of armoured vehicles. To meet such an emergency an anti-tank ditch was being dug along the line of the Toponitsa stream, behind which lay 6 Brigade's defence lines, supported by the guns of 4 and 5 Field Regiments. Some miles to the north of this position flowed the Aliakmon River, winding and twisting across an open plain till it lost itself in a morass before emptying into the Gulf of Salonika. Its bridges and crossings were mined ready for demolition by 1 British Armoured Brigade.

Thus, at the beginning of April, British forces consisting of the New Zealand Division and 1 Armoured Brigade awaited a German attack on Greece from the north-east. On their left was the Greek Central Macedonian Army. The 6th Australian Division, which was beginning to arrive, relieved part of 12 Greek Division in Veria Pass. The 19th Greek Division had moved up to the Bulgarian frontier on what was surely a forlorn hope, to defend the passes leading into Thrace against odds likely to be overwhelming. Throughout the greater part of its extent, from the mouth of the Aliakmon to Mount Kaimakchalan on Yugoslavia's frontier, the Aliakmon Line was one of great natural strength. There were but four routes by which an invading army might enter Greece—the passes of Edessa, Veria and Katerine, and along the east coast. So long as each route was held advantage lay with the defenders, but if one were penetrated all forces occupying the others must speedily withdraw to avoid being outflanked. A chain of formidable strength with here and there a weak link, the line was vulnerable to a degree in one respect. If Greece's front door was barred and shuttered, her back door was doubtfully closed. From Yugoslavia into the heart of Greece, a way lay open through the mountains. Should the Monastir Gap be forced, a hostile army might advance by way of Florina and Kozane, outflanking the line and cutting off the retreat of its defenders.

The first few days of April were spent by 24 Battalion in fortifying and wiring its position. The anti-tank ditch forward of its lines was now complete, and 6 Brigade was supported by two anti-tank batteries and a machine-gun company. The 26th Battalion had been relieved at the Olympus Pass by 23 Battalion, and was in position between the 24th and 25th. The New Zealand Divisional Cavalry was deployed along the Aliakmon River, prepared to fight a delaying action at its crossings. Meanwhile the troops were enjoying themselves. As one of their number remarked, ‘We could have stood a lot of active service under those conditions’.

Letter, Sgt Bell.

Even in time of peace, periods when life seems to assume an aspect of inviolable tranquillity are of short duration. In war these periods are still more brief. On 6 April Germany declared war on Greece, and next day fires in Salonika could be seen clearly through field glasses from 6 Brigade's position. The 24th Battalion was at once warned to stand by ready to occupy its battle positions. Early in the morning of 8 April the bridge over the anti-tank ditch north of Skala Elevtherokhorion was blown, and late that same night the Divisional Cavalry, which had taken over responsibility from 1 Armoured Brigade, blew up the Aliakmon crossings. Refugees from beyond the river were beginning to come through the New Zealand lines. As time went on their numbers increased, and among them appeared many stragglers from the Greek Army. ‘In spite of all efforts to divert them’, writes Sergeant Bell, ‘since early morning refugees had been blocking the roads from the villages further north, and as the day wore on the problem became more acute. One could not help feeling sorry for them. They were really pitiful to see as they came limping along the road behind waggons of all descriptions loaded with everything they could get on to them, drawn by horses, donkeys, bullocks and even by hand. They had their sheep and goats with them too. There was no room on the waggons for passengers and so everybody had to walk, old women, children, mothers with babies in their arms, and every one of them looked despondent, footsore and weary to the point of exhaustion. Even the animals looked tired out, for some of them must have been dragging those heavy waggons unceasingly for days. The people were so hungry too and thanked us with tears in their eyes for any food we were able to give them. I wish to God we had had more for them. One cart drawn by oxen had both wheels stripped of their outer rims and was actually running on the spokes.’

Ibid.

Infected by the prevailing fear, the local villagers gathered in anxious groups to discuss whether they should go or stay. Fear got the better of them; they were about to pack up and leave when Shuttleworth, realising how disastrously their straggling, disorderly columns would cumber the roads, sent for the village priest and persuaded the people through his influence to stay in their homes. The 24th Battalion was now in its battle positions, apparently to stay, but B Echelon was already moving back over the Olympus Pass, and that same evening orders came for the battalion to retire.

By 8 April Greek resistance on the Bulgarian frontier had almost completely broken down. Salonika and the whole of Western Thrace were in German hands. Further west the Allied forces had fared no better. Yugoslav resistance had also collapsed and German armour was driving through the Monastir Gap. British and Australian forces had been detached to meet this threat, but so serious had the situation become that 4 Brigade was ordered to their support, thus leaving 6 Brigade's flank in the air. Nor was this the only factor to cause a weakening of the Aliakmon Line. Once again 26 Battalion had been sent back to the Olympus Pass, and the gap thus exposed had to be filled by detachments from the two remaining battalions. All advanced forces were dangerously extended and a retreat to some shorter line had become imperative.

In the small hours of the morning (10 April), leaving two rifle platoons and the Carrier Platoon as rearguard, 24 Battalion began a 15-mile march to Gannokhora, some three miles north of Katerine. After a long wait it was picked up by motor transport and taken over the pass—a fearsome journey over zigzag roads that crawled along cliff sides—to a valley on the southern slopes near the village of Ag Demetrios. The men had not seen rain for months, but a heavy downpour began as they arrived and camp was pitched under circumstances of great discomfort. The transport had overtaken the marching troops and crossed the pass before them, ‘doing it in spasms, about 200 yards at a time’

Letter, Maj Mantell-Harding.

Of the two days passed at Ag Demetrios, the first was spent in getting wet and the second in getting dry. The rearguard platoons came in and the Anti-Aircraft Platoon was sent to protect B Echelon, some miles to the rear at Dolikhe. Soon afterwards the battalion was called upon to make a gruelling march into the high country west of the pass road. Livadhion was the destination, a large village marvellously blended with its natural surroundings. Its slate-covered roofs were all of a colour, indistinguishable from the mountain itself and the out- cropsoutcrops of rock from which its houses were fashioned. Isolated and self contained from time immemorial, Livadhion had remained unmolested by the turmoil of politics or war, and the inhabitants at first showed some alarm at being invaded by strangers whose intentions they distrusted. As the troops arrived it began to snow, and by the time their tents were brought up some hours later the ground was covered three inches deep. Pitching camp was a dismal proceeding, and the Aucklanders, before being able to spread their blankets on the ground, were obliged to spend time and trouble in shovelling away a substance which few of them had ever seen or touched before.

After a day of roadmending near Livadhion, the battalion was ordered forward to a position near Skotina, between 28 (Maori) Battalion and 16 Australian Brigade—a somewhat inaccessible spot, west of the pass summit. For this journey motor transport was of no avail; only on the backs of mules or donkeys could loads be carried over the narrow mountain tracks, but mules and donkeys were hard to come by, for no sooner did the peasants realise what was afoot than they disappeared into the hills, taking their livestock with them. A sufficent number was procured, but even so all difficulties were not at an end. The men were not accustomed to loading equipment on mules, nor were the mules accustomed to being loaded with infantry equipment; but at length, after much pulling back and jibbing, the pack trains started off. Heavily burdened with full marching order, the companies climbed a steep ridge and then, dropping down the other side, camped late that night in a vast beech forest. The final stage of their march was to take place next day, and two officers and some NCOs had gone on to reconnoitre positions, but at midnight orders arrived for the battalion to return to Livadhion as soon as possible. All efforts had been made in vain, and to the weary men, called upon to retrace their steps over the ground they had so recently, so laboriously covered, it almost seemed that they were being made game of by irresponsible authority. But the reasons for their recall were more than adequate, as they were soon to realise.

The Divisional Cavalry had fought a delaying action on the Aliakmon and then retreated in good order behind the Olympus Pass defence lines. German forces followed hard on this withdrawal and by 15 April 5 Brigade was being heavily attacked, not only in the pass itself but also on the sea coast, where 21 Battalion held the Platamon tunnel. Danger threatened this brigade from both front and rear. Driving through the Monastir Gap, the enemy had taken Florina and Kozane and, though firmly held in check for the time being by 6 Australian Division and 4 New Zealand Brigade, was threatening to cut the only line of retreat for our troops engaged in the Olympus Pass. Still farther west the Greek Army, with sadly outmoded equipment, fought a desperate battle of men against machines. Its defeat—and this was inevitable—would mean yet another threat to the British flank. Such was the state of affairs that made further retreat a necessity.

The Anzac Corps

1 Aust Corps, consisting of 6 Aust Div and 2 NZ Div, was renamed Anzac Corps on 12 April.

The reconnaissance party having been recalled, 24 Battalion's companies left the Skotina woods early next morning and marched back to Livadhion, whence they were directed to continue on in small groups to Dolikhe and wait for motor transport. It was on this march that the troops first began to be haunted by what was to become a familiar and permanent nuisance—a German observation plane which circled above them in leisurely fashion. From that time onward they were seldom to escape its vigilance. Day by day it would seek them out, and its appearance was almost invariably followed by some kind of unwelcome attention from hostile aircraft. At the moment air attack was being concentrated on Elasson, where Shuttleworth and his company commanders had gone, so it was supposed, to attend a brigade conference. Large flights were passing over and returning again after plastering the village with high explosive. After a wait of some hours at Dolikhe, the battalion was picked up by motor transport and driven through Elasson on a pitch-black night. The village was fearfully battered, but it transpired that the Colonel and his officers had been elsewhere during the worst of the bombing. A few miles south of Elasson the convoy halted; companies bivouacked on the plain and moved next morning to their battle positions.

After leaving Elasson the forked roads already mentioned ran for nearly three miles across a level plain. The eastern branch then began to climb abruptly by a zigzag route over a steep, stony ridge. The western branch made a wider loop to reach Tyrnavos, but, since its bends and gradients were far less acute, it was more easily passable by armoured vehicles. It was regarded, therefore, as the more dangerous, and B Company was detached under command of the 25th to assist in its defence, while the Aucklanders' three remaining rifle companies took up a position commanding the east road. With C Company (Captain Morrison) right, D (Captain McDonald

Capt W. R. K. Morrison became Adjutant at the end of February 1941 in place of Capt H. H. McDonald, who took command of D Coy.