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| Soldier Dimitrios Despoteris, Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014 |
It is the story of Lemnos, Egypt and Australia - a story of migration which will resonate with many Greek Australian families. It is also a story of how war affected the Despoteris family. And it tells of the importance of our project to enhance awareness of the role of Lemnos (and Greece) in Australia's Anzac story.
Christina's father Dimitrios served in the Greek Army in World War 2, seeing action in Greece, the Middle East, Syria and Europe. She has kindly let us reproduced some of the photographs of her father from the war.
Well done Christina and thanks again to Neos Kosmos.
If you would like to view and/or download the article, for page 1 click here, and for page 2 here.
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| Dimitrios' unit, Greek Army, WW2. Dimitrios is right rear. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014 |
Christina has provided the following short report in English on the article:
"Their
Journey is our Story"
Christina
Despoteris was interviewed by Vivienne Morris, Features Editor of the Greek
newspaper Neos Kosmos.
The role that
Lemnos played in the Gallipoli campaign is something that Christina Despoteris
is keen to promote, having had many years experience in public
relations. Following her attendance at the conference
on Lemnos in July 2013, she became involved with the Lemnos Gallipoli
Commemorative Committee (LGCC). During her time on the island, she walked in
the footsteps of the soldiers, noted where the invasion forces assembled, where
they were trained and later where the Australian nurses in the Australian
Hospitals looked after the many who had been injured. There were 50,000 Australians
who either served on Lemnos or who were at Moudros Harbour in
ships. There are 1,200 soldiers buried on Lemnos of which 148
are Australian.
The LGCC's
vision is to see an ANZAC trail on Lemnos.
The LGCC is
fundraising to erect a statue, which has been designed by Peter Corlett, to be
placed at Albert Park.
On the weekend,
at Princes Pier where there were events to commemorate the departure of the WW1
convoy in 1914, the LGCC had a stand to fund raise for the statue.
Christina was present and spoke to lots of people who had stories to tell about
their grandfathers or their uncles who had being involved in the Gallipoli
campaign.
She believes
that in the future Lemnos will become better known for
its involvement with the Gallipoli campaign.
Christina
Despoteris was born in Egypt, an only child, she came to Melbourne with her
parents at the age of seven. She had a distinguished career in
the Victorian Public Service working
with various departments including the Premier's. She has always been
involved in promoting the Greek culture and traditions to the broader
community. She is currently involved with several community groups.
Christina's
sensitivities about war stem from the fact that her father, Dimitrios,
served in the Greek Army during World War 11. As a young child, she would
sit on her father's lap, as a teenager and as a woman she would often listen to
her father's stories about his experiences. Having witnessed so
many atrocities and so much bloodshed, her father valued life and was very
passionate and considerate about family, friends and relatives.
In hindsight,
she feels that this was a form of cleansing, by reminiscing and
reviving all the stories of the war. Christina
concludes: "As far as we are concerned, the least we can do is not forget
them, because their journey is our story."
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| Dimitrios' unit, Greek army, WW2. Greek Army, WW2. Dimitrios is kneeling at the front, on the left. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014 |
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| Dimitrios' unit , Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014 |
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| Dimitrios' unit in the Middle East, Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014 |
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| Dimitrios' unit marching, Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014 |
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