Ballarat RSL Briefing

Avenue of Honour Victory Arch, Ballarat. Photo Jim Claven 2015

Today members of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee attended the Ballarat RSL to provide them with an update on our work to commemorate Lemnos and its role in the Gallipoli campaign.
We met with Ms Alexandra Tascas, President of the Ballarat RSL.
We discussed the possibility of the Ballarat RSL hosting our Photographic Exhibition during the Centenary year.
We took the opportunity to view the Ballarat RSL's historical collection and displays. These included a nurses uniform and also a section including Ballarat Nurse Gertrude Munro, who served on the Salonika Front in WW1 and who died of illness. She is buried in Thessaloniki's Mikra Military Cemetery.

Sister Gertrude Munro display, Ballarat RSL. Photo Jim Claven 2015

Sister Gertrude Munro display, Ballarat RSL. Photo Jim Claven 2015

Sister Gertrude Munro display, Ballarat RSL. Photo Jim Claven 2015

Ms Tascas served as a nurse in the Australian Army. Her father was from Kato Kleines in northern Greece.
The Ballarat Region and Lemnos At least two Ballarat nurses are recorded as having served on Lemnos in 1915. These were Staff Nurse Isabel Curnow and Staff Nurse F Hudson. At least seven servicemen connected to the Ballarat area are buried on Lemnos - Sebastopol’s Corporal Charles Edward Gunn of the 21st Battalion, Learmonth’s Private Donald Alexander Gordon Chisholm of the 23rd Battalion, Nerriwa’s Private Henry Joseph Stevens of the 23rd Battalion, Wendouree’s Private James Leslie White of the 22nd Battalion, Kyneton’s Private James Williams Sims of the 15th Battalion, Ararat’s Private William Edward Withers of the 22nd Battalion and Berrybank’s Gunner Louis Stephen Crawforth 2nd Brigade Australian Field Artillery.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee