OXI Day Commemorations in Melbourne - Remember the Armistice of Mudros - October 2014

The Greek and Australian flags fly at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance as the we commemorate the 74th anniversary of OXI Day. Photo Jim Claven 2014

Today marks the 74th anniversary of the OXI Day.
28th October commemorates Greece’s rejection of Mussolini’s ultimatum in 1940 and the valiant defence mounted by the Greek people against first the Italian and then German invaders from 1940 until 1945.
this is an important day for Australians to commemorate along with their Greek compatriots.
Australian soldiers and nurses joined Greece in its defence – some 25,000 – came to Greece to join with the Greek people in their defence.
They would fight alongside their Greek comrades – in a list of battle honours including Vevi, the Vale of Tempe, Brallos Pass and Thermopylae and the Corinth Canal. And of course, they would fight to defend the beautiful Island of Crete in May 1941.

Mr Emmanuel Karvelas, Senior Vice President of the RSL Hellenic Sub Branch addresses the crowd.

Yet again Melbourne's RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch organized a wonderful commemoration of this important day in Australia and Greece's history. The day commenced with a Church Service at St Eustathios Greek Orthodox Church in South Melbourne, a commemorative service at the Australian Hellenic Memorial in the Domain Gardens near the Shrine of remembrance in Melbourne, a further service within the Shrine itself, followed by a commemorative lunch at the RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch Memorial Hall in South Melbourne.
The commemoration was honored to have both the Consul General of Greece, Ms Christina Simantirakis, and Brigadier Keith Rossi, WW2 veteran and representing the RSL, address the assembled crowd.
Congratulations to Steve Kyritsis and all at the RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch.
Below are some images from the commemorations. All photos by Jim Claven unless stated. Thanks to Emmanuel Karvelas for his assistance.

The HMS Agamemnon in Lemnos Island's Mudros Bay. IWM image

Remember the Armistice of Mudros - 30th October 1918
And on this day, we also remember another very important day which cemented the connection between Greece and Australia - the Armistice of Mudros.
For it was on the 30th October, next Thursday, 96 years ago that the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Allies and the Ottoman - in Lemnos' great harbour.
The great British warship – the HMS Agamemnon - was the location of the signing.
This brought to end Australia’s war that had begun at Gallipoli and Lemnos in 1915. Lemnos which was the crucial base for the Gallipoli campaign was now the site of the end of the war.
Zito Australia! Zito Ellada!
Lest we forget
Jim Claven
Secretary 
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

The Greek Consul addresses the assembled crowd at the Australian Hellenic Memorial

Father Ioannis Tabrinidis says a prayer for the fallen

Mr Steve Kyritsis, President of the RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch, lays a wreath.

Ms Jenny Mikakos, MP, lays a wreath on behalf of Daniel Andrews. Leader of the Victorian Opposition

Mr Martin Foley, MP for Albert Park and Convenor of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Greece, lays a wreath.

Mr Lee Tarlamis, Member for South Eastern Province and President of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, lays a wreath

As Secretary of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, I lay a wreath on behalf of the Committee.

Ms Christina Despoteris, lays a wreath on behalf of the Lemnian Community of Victoria.

 

Students from Oakleigh Grammar lay a wreath.

 

Spriros Robotis, President AHEPA Victoria, Commander Ioannis Mihanetsis (Ret) and Sub-Branch member Angelo Yannacaros at the commemoration.

Sub-Branch member Chris Mingos with Con Grivas and Mr Galanis at the commemoration.

Sub-Branch member Annie Tsourlinis with Brigadier Keith Rossi, Mr Lee Tarlamis MLC, Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Martin Foley, MLA State Member for Albert Park and convener of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Greece

 

Committee member Ms Christina Despoteris with Mr Dennis Patisteas, Treasurer of the RSL Hellenic Sub Branch

Students from St John’s College assemble outside the Shrine of Remembrance.

  

 

 

The Consul General of Greece lays a wreath inside the Shrine of Remembrance.