All pals together…for a while

International forces in Canea. April 1897.

The British army  troops are from 1/Seaforth Highlanders, in Crete from March 1897 to November that year. It’s difficult to make out from the photograph but given the number of Naval officers in the background, it’s more than likely that there are British marines and sailors in the shot.

German, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman troops. Crete c.1897.

The postcard is stamped as being posted in 1904 in Canea. The Germans and Austro-Hungarians left Crete in early 1898 and the Ottomans were evicted in late 1898, so there’s a good chance the photographs date from 1897/1898. probably taken in the Canea/Suda Bay area.

 

German Sailors arrive in Crete. 21st February 1897.

Allied to the British and other European forces in the Intervention, German marines arrived in Crete on 21st February 1897 on the protected cruiser S.M.S. Kaiserin Augusta.

Gertman Marines arriving in Canea, 21 February 1897.

 

German Sailors in Canea

German Sailors in Canea

German marines and Seaforth Highlanders, Canea.

 

S.M.S. Kaiserin Augusta 1902.

German troops remained in Crete until 16th March 1898 when Germany, drawing ever closer to the Ottoman Empire, withdrew form the Cretan Concert.