This Day in History: 1945-12-24

In Greece, there was a scare about foot and mouth disease and the 1st Battalion had to implement precautions to stop it spreading from Thrace to Macedonia.  Brigadier Denis Ormerod, who was serving with the Battalion at the time, later recalled: “This meant we had to supply a piquet at the crossing over the River Nestos.  A cement trough was built and  filled with disinfectant through which every westward bound vehicle and individual had to pass.  In addition, orders stated that no fur or skin could cross the river. This resulted in a rather over-zealous guard commander removing a poshteen (Afghan or sheep coat) from a well-known member of Brigade HQ claiming it was a skin!  The order was immediately amended.’