Soldiers who died in Crete were usually buried in a churchyard or cemetery corresponding to their religion. Most Protestant British soldiers are memorialised in a cemetery within, but walled off from, the Orthodox church of of Agios Konstantinos and Agia Eleni in Iraklion and their Catholic colleagues are buried in the Catholic Churchyard St John the Baptist, also in Iraklion. Most French Catholics are buried in the Catholic churchyard of the monastery of St Francis in Canea, the majority of Russian Orthodox buried in the Greek Orthodox churchyard of Agios Konstantinos and Agia Eleni in Rethymno, the Russian/Polish Catholics in a separate, Catholic, graveyard across the road from their Orthodox colleagues.
However, two British soldiers, Corporal W. Ward, Army Service Corps, who died in Canea 28th October 1898 and Private H. J. Sharp, Royal Marine Light Infantry from H.M.S.Thetis, who died on 24th May 1898, are buried in the Orthodox churchyard of Agia Fotini, Canea 731 33, the Canea Municipal Cemetery.
While it is of course not impossible that both men were members of the Greek Orthodox church, it is unlikely, in particular since their names do not appear to indicate they were anything other than British in origin.
On 2nd March 1897, the European Powers announced to the Greek and the Ottoman Governments that:
“Crete cannot, under the present circumstances, be annexed to Greece. The Powers have decided to preserve the integrity of the Ottoman State and endow Crete with an effective autonomous regime, destined to secure a government distinct of the suzerainty of the Porte”.[1]
In effect this meant that Crete, though still remaining nominally under the juristiction of the Ottoman Empire, would be given the power to rule and to tax itself, without the need for Ottoman authority or Ottoman intervention. While this compromise solution satisfied neither those Cretan Christians who wanted enosis, nor the Porte and the many Cretan Muslims who wished to retain the status quo, it laid the path for the eventual creation of the Kritiki Politeia in December 1898.
Discussing the Admirals’ Proclaimation of Automomy: A Street Scene in Canea. Supplement to The Graphic. 10 April 1897.
[1] Σ. Παπαμανουσάκης, «Από την Επανάσταση στο Κράτος» στο Η τελευταία φάση του Κρητικού Ζητήματος, 2001, σελ. 193.
The events surrounding the raising of the Greek flag by Spiros Kayales (also spelled as Kagailes or Kayaledakis) during the bombardment of Agios Elias on the Akrotiri peninsula above Canea on 21 February 1897 are a well known story in Crete. In brief, the narrative goes that when the Greek flag, raised by Cretan Christian insurgents, was knocked down during the bombardment of the position by European warships, Kayales raised it up and kept it flying, using his body as a flagpole. The story goes on that the European Admirals, seeing Kayales’ bravery ceased firing. A slightly different version is told here. A further British version of the event was given by the correspondent of the Globe, writing from Canea on 22nd February 1897, and published on 4th March of that year.
‘Ever since Friday February 19, the Greeks and insurgents encamped near the village of Korakies had been pressing towards Canea and firing promiscuously. As I have shown [previously] in this letter, they received a stern warning on Friday. In spite of this they played the same game on this Sunday afternoon, and by firing on Canea and its neighbourhood not only set the Powers at defiance, but also endangered the lives of the marines who were on shore. It was an unpleasant business, but the Admirals, who were responsible for their men, were obliged to actively interfere. All the afternoon shots were heard behind Canea – the insurgents were, apparently potting at everything they could see. The Admirals got tired of this and at length decided to act.
All ships which had a clear range were ordered to fire on the village of Korakies, on the east, above Halepa. The Greeks were in force there behind the hill. At 5p.m. the bombardment began. Bang! Went the Austrian “Maria Theresa” and the others followed suit. The ships firing were:- “Revenge”, “Dryad, “Harrier” (English), “Maria Theresa” (Austrian); “Alexander II” (Russian); “Kaiserine Augusta” (German). The Italian and French ships did not fire, not having a clear range. We had a perfect view of the shooting, the village being at the top of a hill only 4,000 yards away. Shrapnel shell burst all over the place. The Greek flag was, after two minutes, hauled down, but the firing did not cease for another three minutes, when it stopped by general signal.
No troops could be seen during this fusillade, except when the flag was hauled down; then one bold man took away both flag and staff. Directly the firing ceased, however, we were amazed to see hundreds of figures appear over the brow of the hill, and once more the Greek flag was hoisted. Nothing was done by us to stop them, and the flag was left in possession. I do not suppose the firing did much damage. The village was already in ruins, and the troops had plenty of shelter in the rocky ground.
The following is a rough estimate of the firing output:- “Dryad” 10 rounds of 4.7 inch shell; “Harrier” five rounds; “Alexander II.” Four rounds; “Kaiserin Augusta” six rounds; making altogether 28 rounds of 4.7 inch shell.
The English yacht “Inva” was unpleasantly close to the line of fire, and was nearly hit by a shot from either the Austrian or the Russian ship – reports differ. The shell- a time-fuse- exploded just outside the muzzle of the gun, and its bullets ploughed up the water all around the yacht. She rapidly shifted her billet. The “Revenge” fired three shots uncomfortably near the “Barfleur,” right across her bows.
The shrapnel shells bursting on the hill top made a very pretty display, and the English firing was fairly good, but the men’s hearts were not in the job.’
This version, albeit observed from 4,000 yards away, suggests that Kayales simply removed the flag and flagpole.
Why does this matter? In many ways it doesn’t. Undoubtedly Spiros Kayales was a very brave man to venture anywhere near the flag during the bombardment, and nobody would dispute his bravery or that he took some action to protect the flag. What the reports of the incident show is the difficulty of relying on eyewitness accounts of any historical event to determine what is the “truth”.
The British observers, at least one of whom was on board one of the ships firing, viewing the scene from 4,000 yards away, did not, apparently, see him do anything other than pull down, or retrieve the flag. The Cretan observers, nearer the event but in the middle of an intense three or four minutes of bombardment by shrapnel shells, apparently saw him raise the flag, using his body as a flagpole.
In one version of the event he is simply a figure on a hill-top, in another version he is part of national foundation story. The reader chooses.
The file below lists all British miliitary deaths, discovered to date, that occured during the British involvement in the European Intervention in Crete between 1897 and 1913. A lot of the original work that went into producing this list was carried out by Ron Phillips during the 1980s and is included by with his permission. The list is intended to be freely available for use or reproduction, although an acknowledgement and a link back to this source would be nice!
The work on updating the list is continuing and any additions/corrections/comments would be most gratefully received.
Memorial Wall to British Military Dead.
Agios Konstantinos and Eleni, 42 Odos Knossou, Iraklion.
British Military Casualties incurred in Candia on or about 6th September 1898.
The following details, as far as possible the British military casualties of the rioting in Candia on 6th September 1898. These details are taken from a number of sources, among them newspapers of the time, some of which are now difficult to decipher. Where different spellings or army numbers have been given, the alternatives have been shown in [square brackets].
Sailors and marines.
Source: Aberdeen Press and Journal – Friday 9 September 1898
Killed
186546. Ordinary Seaman Henry Harry Andrews
150918. Leading Seaman William Berry
147607. Leading Seaman Albert John Champion
185289. Ordinary Seaman Alfred Bargew Stroud.
Wounded
167068. Able Seaman Griffith Thomas Cadwallader
160248. Able Seaman George Fredrick Hodges
178034. Able Seaman George Jonas Sarfent
7377. Private William Smith R.M.L.I., Plymouth
168261. Able Seaman John Fredrick Wiltshire
176756. Able Seaman John Wolley
148436. Able Seaman Charles Henry Wollocott
Army
1/Highland Light Infantry
Source: C9086 Turkey No. 7 1898. Further Correspondence respecting the Affairs of Crete.[1]
Killed
Lieutenant Robert John Alwynne Haldane
Wounded
Second Lieutenant William Henry-Erik Segrave
Source: The North British Daily Mail – Thursday 15 September 1898 p5. (Details of wounds given The Scotsman 1st October 1898 p.11)
Killed.
6462. Piper Murdoch Campbell, enlisted at Lanark on 17 June, 1897, and was in his 20th year.
6035. Private James Edwin Cox, enlisted at Hounslow on 10th October, 1895, and was within one month of 21 years of age. (Killed in harbour en route to S.S. Turquoise.[2])
6484. Robert M’Neill [MacNeill], enlisted at Hamilton on 26th August, 1897, and was in his 20th year.
6495. Private William Weston, enlisted at Edinburgh on 27th September 1897, and had just turned 19 years; a native of Edinburgh.
6259. Private Alexander Allison, enlisted at Hamilton on 17 December, 1896, and was in his 21st year.
6547. Private John Bell, enlisted at Hamilton on 29th January, 1896, and was nearly 23 years
5012, Private Robert Fiddler, enlisted by Sergeant-Major D. B. Mackenzie at Edinburgh and was in his 29th year; born at Buttevant, Cork, while his father was serving with the H. L. I., where the regiment was stationed. (Killed while returning from No.2 outpost.[4])
6310, Private George Rayne, enlisted at Aberdeen on the 31st December, 1896, and was in his 21st year. (Killed while returning from No.2 outpost.[5])
WOUNDED.
4448, Sergeant Crawford Ferguson, enlisted at Hounslow on 20th November, 1891, and is nearly 26 years of age. Wound on right arm.
3896 Sergeant Abraham Gray, enlisted at Edinburgh on 13th March, 1891, and is in his 27th year. A native of Edinburgh.
5352. Corporal James Rae, enlisted at Edinburgh on 28th June, 1894, and is in his 23rd year. By trade a plasterer and a native of Edinburgh. Wound on knee.
6482. Private Joseph Cassidy, enlisted at Hamilton on 20th August, 1897, and is 19 years of age.
6271. Private Frederick Henry Davey [Dovey], enlisted in London on 29th December 1896 and has just turned 20 years. Wounded on buttock.
4896 Private Duncan Fraser, enlisted at Glasgow on 22nd May, 1893, and has turned 23 years.
6848 [6498]. Private James Gordon, enlisted at Edinburgh on 30th September, 1897, and is in his 21st year. A native of Edinburgh.
6409, Private William Guthrie, enlisted at Hamilton on 16th January, 1897, and is 21 years of age.
6273. Private Frank Harding, enlisted in London 30th December, 1896, and is in his 21st year. Wounded on hip(dangerous).
6552. Private Charles Hargreaves, enlisted at Hamilton on 5th February, 1896, and is in his 21st year.
6233. Private Arthur Hunt, enlisted in London on 190 December 1896 and is barely 20 years of age. Wounded on left shoulder.
6589, Private Alexander Kay, a native of Armiston, Mid-Lothian, and a cabinetmaker by trade, enlisted at Edinburgh on 23rd March 1898, and is barely 20 years of age. Wounded on right shoulder, left side and foot.
5937. Private Ernest Larcombe, enlisted in London on 12th September 1895, and has just turned 21 years. Wounded on head and leg.
6080. Private [Piper] John Maclean [M’Lean], enlisted at Glasgow on 5th November, 1896, and is in his 22nd year.
5694 [5894], Private George Maskall, enlisted in London on 7 September 1895, and is in his 22nd year. Wounded on leg.
4793, Private Kenneth M’Donald, enlisted at Hamilton on 11th January, 1893, and is in his 24th year.
5891. Bugler Kenneth M’Kenzie, enlisted in London 5th September, 1895, and is in 22d year. Wounded on left forearm.
4863. Private James Murphy, enlisted at Hamilton on 14th April, 1893, and is in his 25th year. Wounded on knee.
6383. Private Hoy Nash, enlisted in London on 13 January, 1897, and was within a few months of 20 years. Wounded on leg.
6337. Private Joseph Perkins, enlisted at Birmingham on 6th January, 1897, and has nearly completed his 20th year. (Wounded in the leg while carrying the body of Lt. Haldane to S.S. Turquoise.[6])
4384. Private [Bandsman] Andrew Watson, enlisted at Glasgow as a boy on 25th September, 1891, and is in his 23rd year. Wounded on both thighs.
3160 [3140]. Private William Welsh [3140 Webb?], enlisted at Hamilton on 9th November, 189? And is 18 years of age.
Source: The Scotsman 1st October 1898 p.11
6415. Private A. Campbell. Wounded on back and ankle.
5525. Private J. Caldwell.
5520. Private D. Maule.
Other Soldiers wounded. Source: Edinburgh Evening News Saturday 10th September p.4.
Royal Army Medical Corps.
Lieutenant Thomas Henry Matthews Clarke. (Wounded at the British hospital attempting to save Private MacNeill.[7])
11,177 Private G. Biddiscombe.
Royal Engineers.
26,601 Sapper Richards.
The total dead and wounded:
Navy and marines – Four dead, seven wounded.
Army – Ten dead, 28 wounded
One final British casualty to be added to the list is No.2423, Colour-Sergeant J. Craig who was in the hospital when it was attacked. ‘Being in a very weak state from fever, the shock of removal proved too great, and he died in hospital in Malta.’[8]
Private Robert Fiddler.
The Edinburgh Evening News. Friday 16 September 1898.
ANOTHER EDINBURGH VICTIM OF THE CRETAN RIOTS. The portrait is that of Private Robert Fiddler, native of Ireland, but who resided the Stockbridge district of the city for a number of years. Fiddler was a member of the Highland Light Infantry, and was murdered Bashi-Bazouks while returning from the outposts at Candia, Crete. His father was also a soldier the regiment.
The number of British civilian casualties is unknown, but relatively small. British Consul Biliotti reported that he was only aware of three British subjects killed: Lyssimachus Calcherino, the British Vice-Consul in Candia, Vincent Carabott, the father of the Superintendent of the Eastern Telegraph Company office and Marie Camillieri, a Maltese washerwoman.[9] However, in his report Biliotti makes no mention of Calocherino’s family who also perished on that day.
Vice Consul Calocherino and his daughter.
The number of Cretan casualties, in particular Cretan Christians, killed or injured is also unknown and probably unknowable. No accurate figures are available of the population of Candia at that time; the town was full of Cretan Muslim refugees who had fled from the interior and there had been a continuing exodus of Cretan Christians from the town taking place over the previous months. It is, however, believed that up to 800 Cretans may have died on that day, all but a handful of them Cretan Christians.
[1] Parliamentary Command Paper C9086, Turkey No. 7, 1898. Further Correspondence respecting the Affairs of Crete. (Hereafter C.9086) Inclosure 2 in No. 91. Lt. Colonel Reid to Captain Hallett, 7th September 1898.
[7] Obituary in Journal of Royal Army Medical Corps.: First published as 10.1136/jramc-76-05-16 on 1 May 1941. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com. Accessed 12.15 hrs. June 20, 2021
On April 18th, following Vassos’ ‘annexation’ of Crete and large-scale Greek incursions into Ottoman Macedonia, the Ottoman Empire declared war on Greece. In Canea, on April 19th an international detachment under command of Captain Egerton consisting of 75 Seaforths, 75 Austrians, 75 French, 90 Italians and 2 Italian guns, was sent to be part of a guard at the neck of Akrotiri peninsula, remaining there until June.
According to Egerton:
‘The orders given by the Council of Admirals …were to guard the neck of the Akrotiri peninsula and prevent a large body of insurgents encamped therein from breaking out, and equally to prevent any body of Turks or Bashi Bazouks from the mainland from breaking in and attacking the insurgents. The two chiefs of the insurgent bands on Akrotiri were Messers Fourmis [sic] & Venezelos [sic], both Athens’ educated natives of Crete, who spoke and wrote excellent French.’
Activity at this post was apparently limited and Egerton clearly had no great opinion of his allies, continuing his narrative in the first person he stated:
‘Nothing serious ever happened, but for the two months that I was in command at Akrotiri Lt. Campion and myself, took it in turn every night to visit the sentries and patrol the neighbourhood, after 12 midnight. I did not trust the Italians a yard, and had no great confidence in the French, but my Austrian detachment Officers and men, were reliable to the last degree. The Italians were very fond of the English and were ready to black our boots, and they have never forgotten how much we assisted towards a united Italy. The Austrians were on very friendly terms always, their Officers were nearly all gentlemen, which was not certainly the case with most of the other foreign Officers. The Russians we saw little of, they were mainly kept outside of Canea, on account of their rowdy habits. Their Colonel was an ex-Guardsman exiled for St. Petersburg for his numerous crimes. He was often seen drunk.
The move to Akrotiri coincided with the European takeover of the Izzedin fortress overlooking Suda Bay and of a number of smaller blockhouses in and around the Bay. Command of the fortress and the outlying posts was given to Major Bor, who ‘to give him the necessary authority over his foreign colleagues [was given] the honorary rank of Colonel.’
The Illustrated London News of April 24th 1897 reported: “Captain Granville Egerton, of the Seaforth Highlanders, who is in command of one of the detachments of British troops now in Crete, has seen some years of active service. He received his commission in 1879, and proceeded at once to Afghanistan, where he was seriously wounded before the year was out in the operations around Cabul. He subsequently took part in the advance on Candahar, and distinguished himself in the battle there fought. In the Egyptian Campaign of 1882 he was Adjutant to the Ist Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, and took part in the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir.”
On leaving Crete with in November 1897, the Seaforths, including Egerton, went on, via a spell in Malta, to take part in the campaign in The Sudan. Here, Egerton was mentioned twice in despatches, his first such mention having been during the campaign in Afghanistan in 1880. He eventually went on to command the 52nd Lowland Infantry Division at Gallipoli, surviving the war and retiring from the army with the rank of Major General in 1919. He died in 1951.
The confused state of inter-communal relations on Crete in February 1897 was illustrated by the situation faced by Commander C. L. Ottley, Captain of H.M.S. Nymphe, a composite screw sloop.
Arriving off Sitia on 11th February 1897 he was informed by both the Kaimakam, the Ottoman appointed town governor, and the Italian Eastern Telegraph Company operator that the town was in a state of panic; Christian insurrectionists surrounding the town and its inhabitants, both Christians and Muslims, each fearing that the others were about to attack them. Ottley initially interviewed Muslim leaders, finding:
“[I]n some ways remarkable as a complete reversal of the very prevalent idea, that it is only the Christians in Crete, who have reason to dread the indiscriminate massacre of their men, women and children at the hands of Musselmens.”
At a later interview with Christian chieftains, it was they who expressed their fear of massacre. Ottley eventually arranged for women and children of each religion to be placed in separate caiques moored alongside H. M. S. Nymphe, under the protection of her guns.[1]On the 14th February, landing under a flag of truce and delivering a message to the insurrectionists from the consuls in Canea to the effect that they would be held responsible for any unlawful acts committed by their men, Ottley arranged for Christian and Muslim chiefs to meet in his cabin to organise a 48 hour armistice. His justification for the breach of orders ‘not to get involved as an intermediary’ [2], was that there was considerable British and foreign property at risk in the town, and there were no European consuls present:
“Several of the principal local functionaries have fled, including the Kaimaken,[sic] and so far as I am aware, the Captain of the Port. The Head of the judicial branch of the government here has, I am informed, gone mad (he yesterday murdered a Mussleman woman).”
His efforts to broker a cease fire were successful and the situation within the town remained calm pending the arrival of Ottoman and European (French in this case) troops to keep the peace.[3]
H.M.S. Nymphe c. 1896.
Foot notes.
[1] National Archive, Admiralty Papers. ADM 116/89, Crete – Letters from C. In C. Mediterranean. No. 32. Commander Otley to Rear Admiral Harris, 14 February 1897.
[2] ]bid.
[3] National Archive, Admiralty papers. ADM 116/89, Crete – Letters from C. In C. Mediterranean. No. 33. Commander Otley to Rear Admiral Harris, 16 February 1897.
The first tranche of 2/Royal Welsh Fusiliers, consisting of HQ and four other companies, arrived in Candia on 8th April 1897, the remainer of the batallion arriving in August that year. They remained on Crete until August 1898, when they departed for Egypt. However, they returned again to the island the next month as part of the British reinforcements sent after the riots of 6th September; finally departing for good in December 1898.
Their arrival in 1897 was witnessed by a correspondent sent by the London newspaper, the Standard:
From our own correspondent. Candia Friday [9 April 1897]
I arrived here at dawn to-day on board the transport Malacca, conveying a company of the Seaforth Highlanders and a battalion of the Welsh Fusiliers. The disembarkation of the Highlanders was begun at once, with the assistance of the Bluejackets from the Bruiser and the launches of the Trafalgar. The work was favoured by perfectly calm weather, and all arrangements had, as far as possible, been made beforehand, even to the building of ovens and the preparation of kitchens by fatigue parties of the Highlanders already here. The Company of the Seaforths marched up to the barracks about four o’clock, but the Welsh Fusiliers will probably remain on board until to-morrow. The Malacca has brought five hundred tons of extra regimental stores, and as another canteen ship arrived simultaneously, the men need not be afraid of running short of personal comforts, although they have plenty of work before them. The Fusiliers will be camped along the ramparts to the north-west of the Highlanders, and will take over almost one-half of the ground hitherto patrolled and guarded by the latter.
Admiral Canevaro came over here this after noon, in consequence of exaggerated reports that the Turks had attempted to pillage the Catholic Church, during the fire that occurred recently close by, notwithstanding that the building was guarded by Italian sailors. It is so difficult in this part of the world to get at the truth of things, save by making exhaustive personal inquiries, that it is only with the utmost reserve that I give what are, lam told, the actual facts. It seems, then, that an Italian sailor dropped a revolver while engaged in extinguishing the flames, and that it was picked up by a Turkish soldier. The action was misconstrued, and gave rise to a short dispute, which, however, was speedily settled by the Italian and Turkish officers.
Yesterday nearly the whole of the Turkish garrison turned out, after requesting the Foreign troops to patrol the town while they engaged the Insurgents. A tremendous fusillade was kept up till sunset, resulting in the loss of a single horse on the Ottoman side. Meanwhile, Captain Grenfell landed all the Bluejackets that could be spared, and marched them round the ramparts.
The small-pox is, I am sorry to say, on the increase, and the streets are full of people in various stages of the disease. Most of the Seaforth Highlanders have been vaccinated afresh, but comparatively few of them “took.” The men are now fairly comfortable, though it is rather provoking to see the Turks fighting, or pretending to fight, every day, while they themselves are confined to barracks — not a man being allowed to go into the town except on duty, nor even the officers, unless they go in twos and threes.
Sir Alfred Biliotti arrived here about noon. Colonel Chermside, the British Commandant, has so far recovered from his recent indisposition as to be able to resume his outdoor duties.
Working party of 2/RWF entrenching camp on ‘Canea bastion’ Candia. April 1898.
RWF throwing up new earthworks on Venetian Ramparts, Candia. April 1897.
On Tuesday 23 February 1897, fire broke out in the Konak, the Governmental buildings, in Canea. The following report was made in one of the more sensationalist British newspapers of the time: the Penny Illustrated Paper.
“The Services of British Marines and Bluejackets at the Great Fire in Canea. illustrated on our front page, exemplified the general smartness of all our services. Again, did the Daily News Special Correspondent at Canea distinguish himself in being the first to send home details of this gallant achievement.
On Tuesday evening, Feb. 23, a fire broke out at the Government Palace at Canea, which resulted in the entire destruction of the Palace buildings. The fire was discovered next morning, at five o’clock, in a room in the centre of the building, next door to the bedroom of the Italian Commandant. It was already so fierce that the Commandant was unable to dress, and was forced to escape in a blanket. The flames spread rapidly, and the entire building, which was of wood, was speedily ablaze.
The British Marines quartered at the Greek School close to the palace were immediately marched to the square by Major Brittan, who with Lieutenant Nelson (good name) proceeded to attempt to extinguish the fire; but the palace being a Turkish Government institution, of course neither pumps, hose, axes, buckets, water, nor other appliances were available. The difficulties, therefore, were immense. Major Brittan and Lieutenant Nelson, seeing the impossibility of otherwise saving the quarter, then set to work with their men to insulate the fire, tearing down the buildings abutting on the palace literally with their hands, having no other means.
The Marines worked splendidly, displaying infinite pluck and indefatigable energy. The struggle lasted three hours before success appeared even possible. Ultimately the efforts of the Marines prevailed, and the quarter was saved. During the progress of the fire, bands of sailors from the war-ships, British and foreign, arrived to take part in the work of salvage, but although the British sailors did excellent work, it is not too much to say that the chief credit in saving the town from another appalling disaster rests with Major Brittan and Lieutenant Nelson and their men.
While the fire was in progress at the palace, the Moslem rabble profited by the confusion to set fire to several houses in the town and suburbs. Major Bor and the Montenegrin police force patrolled the streets, extinguishing the flames where possible, but three large houses in the suburbs, the property of absent Christian merchants, were burned to the ground.”[1]
Colonel vassos. ‘Round the World’ American magazine 25 March 1897
Livadia battle
Following the fall of the Tower of Voukolies on 19 February 1897, the Greek forces prepared to return to Platanias. However, news of a sortie of Ottoman troops and Bashi-Bazouks from Canea brought about a change in orders. The Daily News* reported what happened next:
“The morning [Friday 19 February] was spent in burying the dead, and the afternoon the fort was blown up, after which the force started to return Platania. Meanwhile the Cretans had advanced and surrounded a portion of the Turkish force, which had taken refuge in a strong position an inaccessible hill. Here they still remain. The rest have apparently dispersed in various directions.
In the afternoon the main body of the Greek troops arrived at Platania. There they learned that a strong force of Moslems — about five hundred Turks and as many Bashi-Bazouks – were advancing from Canea towards Voukoulies. The news was sent by the Cretans, two hundred of whom were holding the Turks in check in a narrow place, and now begged assistance. Colonel Vassos ordered battalion of infantry and a company of Chasseurs to go in support of the Cretans.
The country is very difficult, much wooded, and greatly broken up, and it is possible to see only a short distance ahead. Thus the troops suddenly found themselves the middle an olive grove occupied by the Turks.’ The Moslems abandoned the wood in five minutes, the troops followed up and severe fight ensued, lasting near three hours. The Turks took up positions on the heights, thus forcing the Greek enemy to fight up them.
The young Greek soldiers fought admirably. They drove the Turks from one position after another, capturing first the Tower of Ayah, then the Tower of Monkundro, and finally the barracks of Livadia, which were burned about five o’clock. This last position having fallen into the bands of the Greeks the Moslems retreated, taking with them three guns which had been stationed at the barracks, but which had done no execution. The Greeks pursued the retiring columns to within mile the fortifications this town, and then fell back to Platanias.
The Turkish loss in this engagement is unknown, but I have seen number of wounded brought into the lines on donkeys. The Greeks suffered severely. They had three officers killed, and one severely wounded. Two sergeants were killed, and eight privates and men were wounded. The Greek troops are all young soldiers who have never before been under fire. They displayed courage, coolness, and enthusiasm, and their general behaviour is highly creditable. Fighting side by side with the regular troops were the Students’ Corps under Captain Zimbarkakis, with which I came from Athens. The Greeks took ten Turkish prisoners of the regular troops. Three are now prisoners in camp at Platanias.”[1]
The same incident was described rather more briefly by Rear Admiral Harris, the ultimate commander of the newly landed British forces:
Today [ 19 February] a Greek force of about 9,000 Regulars and insurgents [a grossly exagerated figure; Vassos had a total of about 1,500 men], with five guns, advanced from the westward against Middle Age Fort and attacked it. The Turks, after firing, evacuated the fort, falling back on the town [Canea] outposts. The insurgents are now advancing their guns. The Admirals are unanimous that any further advance must be stopped. This step is necessary to prevent loss of life among our men in temporary occupation of Canea, which would be very likely to occur should investment become closer.[2]
This despatch was transmitted on 20 February but drafted on 19 February, presumably shortly after Vassos men moved on from Voukolies towards Livadia. The decision of the Admirals was to assume greater significance in the following weeks when the Admirals carried out their threat, and, on several occasions, opened fire upon Greek and insurgent forces to prevent them advancing on Canea.
*This article appeared in the Sheffield Independent and is credited to the Canea Correspondent of the Daily News.
La Tribuna Illustrata della Domenica. 28 Fwebruary 1897. (According to one source, this was apparently meant to illustrate the fight at Livadia.)
Route taken by Colonel Vassos’ forces.
[1] The Daily News, Canea Correspondent, reported in The Sheffield Independent 23 February 1897.
[2] C.8437. Turkey No. 10 (1897) Further Correspondence respecting the Affairs in Crete. Item No. 169, Rear Admiral Harris to Admiralty, 19 February 1897.
The British in Crete, 1896 to 1913. 