The house that Tommy built ‘somewhere in Greece’: pantomimes produced by the 85th Field Ambulance in Salonika 1915-18

This article examines the pantomimes produced by the 85th Field Ambulance (3rd London) of the 28th Division while stationed at Salonika on the Eastern Front between 1915 and 1918. Examination of the extant scripts, theatre ephemera, photographs and press reviews shows that in addition to their entertainment value these pantos helped to diffuse tension between the ranks by providing a rare licence for servicemen to express their frustrations and grievances about conditions at the Eastern Front. Despite inadequate clothing and accommodation to survive in such a harsh environment, malaria and influenza epidemics, and paucity of leave, the British Salonika Force was depicted in the British popular press as the ‘gardeners of Salonika’ since the campaign in Macedonia was considered by many to be a ‘side-show’ due to the apparent lack of activity there compared to the Western Front. Annual revivals (1921-31) in London of the 85th Field Ambulance pantomimes again provide evidence of a much-needed figurative ‘home’ for many ex-soldiers of the British Salonika Force who missed the comradeship and security of army life and typically felt lonely and alienated as forgotten heroes of the Balkans campaign. Martina Lipton is a Research Fellow (Australia) at the University of Warwick and Honorary Associate Lecturer at the University of Queensland