Lemnos, Gallipoli and the Port Phillip Connection Booklets and Posters Now Available!

Recently I prepared a series of historical booklets and commemorative posters for the City of Port Phillip, explaining the Lemnos Gallipoli story and its connection to Port Phillip.
These will be linked to our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial at Melbourne's Albert Park via the QR code symbol on our Memorial information board (illustrated above).
The documents are produced as a series of PDF booklets and they are available for download via the links below. There are seven separate booklets or posters available. We hope you enjoy these.

Lemnos and Anzac Booklet
This booklet explains the role of Lemnos in the Gallipoli campaign.
Read and download the booklet by clicking here.

Port Phillip Connection Booklet
This booklet explains some of the connections between Port Phillip and the Lemnos Gallipoli story.
Read and download the booklet by clicking here.

Creating Our Memorial
This booklet explains how our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial was created by Australia's pre-eminent commemorative sculptor, Peter Corlett OAM, blending influences of Classical Greek sculpture with the images and story of the nurses and diggers on Lemnos in 1915.
Read and download the booklet by clicking here.

East Mudros Cemetery Poster
This poster lists details of all the Australian soldiers buried at East Mudros Military Cemetery on Lemnos.
To view and download the poster, click here.

Portianos Cemetery Poster
This poster lists details of all the Australian soldiers buried at East Mudros Military Cemetery on Lemnos.
To view and download the poster, click here.

100 Years Ago Commemorative Poster
This poster commemorates the erection of our Memorial, reproducing many of the images taken by the Anzac's in 1915
To view and download the poster, click here.

Our Journey Commemorative Poster
This poster commemorates the journey of our Committee, as we worked to create the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial.
To view and download the poster, click here.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Poster Gifted to Australian Embassy in Athens

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Recently our Vice-President, Ms Christina Despoteris, was able to re-inforce our Committee's excellent links with the Australian Embassy in Greece.
Christina has been visiting Greece to promote the work of our Committee, as well as that of the Thessaloniki Association's White Tower project and the new links being developing between schools in Greece and Melbourne.
Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Poster Presentation
Ms Christina Despoteris presented the Australian Ambassador to Greece, his Excellency John Griffin, with our Lemmos Gallipoli Memorial commemorative poster.
The poster is now on display in the Australian Embassy in Athens.Christina also provided the Ambassador an update on our various projects.
Ambassador Griffin has been a strong promoter of the Anzac link between Australia and Greece and has always supported our activities to improve awareness of the link between Lemnos and Anzac in 1915. He has played a key role in ensuring that the annual commemorative services on Lemnos are a success, especially the Centenary commemorations held last year. Earlier this year he was able to visit our Memorial in Albert Park.
Christina presented the commemorative poster to the Ambassador during a meeting held at the Ambassador’s residence in Athens. Over afternoon tea the meeting discussed various ways in which we can liaise closer and exchange information, ideas and know-how in relation to the education and teaching of languages amongst ethnic minorities and the disadvantaged.
As well as Christina, those who attended the lunch and presentation included:

• His Excellency John Griffin - Australian Ambassador to Greece
• Dr Mary Koutsoudaki - Professor - Faculty of English Language and Literature - National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
• Dr Maria Kaskadami - Principal - 1st Junior High School - Voula/Athens
• Argyro Sarigianopoulos - Immigration Department - Australian Embassy Athens
• Bella Kapon - Public Diplomacy Officer - Australian Embassy Athens and

Christina Despoteris, Dr Maria Kaskadami, Ambassador Griffin, Argyro Sarigianopoulos, Dr Mary Koutsoudaki. Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Ambassador Visits Athens War Museum
Later on the 27th September Christina arranged and accompanied the Ambassador on a personal tour of the Athens War Museum, led by Museum Director Brigadier General Panayiotis Kaperonis. The tour was followed by a luncheon at the Officers' Mess. Ambassador Griffin proudly wore a white laurel flower produced as part of the White Tower Melbourne Project.
The Athens War Museum is one of Greece's premier museums and is well worth a visit during your next stay in Athens.
Brigadier General Kaperonis has also been a strong supporter of our work - accepting our Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Exhibition and hosting our presentation and reception at the War Museum as part of the Centenary of Anzac last year.
A big thank you to Panayiotis from all at our Committee.
Photographs taken by Christina during the tour are reproduced below.

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Photo Christina Despoteris 2016

Jim Claven

Secretary

Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Port Melbourne Presention - Port Phillip, the Anzacs and Lemnos 1915

Photo Paul Sougleris 2016

A big thank you to all who attend my presentation on Lemnos and Gallipoli last night at the historic Port Melbourne Town Hall - around 50 people braved a cold and rainy night to attend my lecture at the meeting of the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society. 

My presentation outlined some of  the connections between Port Philip and Lemnos - through the stories of Nurse Clarice Daley and Clara Potter of Elwood and Port Melbourne respectively, and the diggers, including Albert Park's Corporal George Finlay Knight, South Melbourne's Driver Ralph Berryman, St Kilda's Trooper Albert Bent, Albert Park's 3rd AGH Medical Officer Captain Arthur Mitchell and Middle Park's Lieutenant George Makin - to name a few! 

It was a special pleasure for me to address the Society as our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial is nearby in Albert Park.

I mentioned our proposal to name the location of our memorial, Lemnos Square or Reserve, as well as the need to create greater awareness of the significant dual burial of Lemnos veterans Clarice Daley and her husband Ernest Lawrence at St Kilda Cemetery. We have raised the latter issue with the City of port Phillip and the suggestion as made for us to approach the Friends of St Kilda Library.

Photo Paul Sougleris 2016

Many members commented that they now know why the Memorial was erected and why it is located in the area. Many members expressed the desire to attend our future commemorative services at the Memorial. Thanks to all at the Society for the invitation, including Pat Grainger and Janet Bolitho. And thanks to all who supported our Committee by buying our commemorative badges! Thanks also to our Committee member Deb Elizabeth Stewart as well as Paul Soug of the Greek Anzac's group for attending.

Photo Paul Sougleris 2016

Photo Paul Sougleris 2016

Port Phillip Anzac Commemoration Committee

During the meeting I was informed of the Port Phillip Anzac Commemoration Committee.

This small consultative committee (of which our Committee member and local resident Lambis Englezos is a member) which meets with the City of Port Phillip. It takes an interest in what is happening locally in relation to WW1 commemoration and suggest things that might be done. 

I was informed that it supports our Committee proposal to name the location of our Memorial Lemnos Square or Reserve, as well as the erection of a commemorative panel for Albert Jacka, who served on Lemnos in 1915 (such as the one for the Gallipoli Lemnos memorial), with its possible location in a prominent location such as the foreshore promenade on Jacka Boulevard.

 

Honorata departing Port Melbourne 1916. Source: State Library of Victoria

Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society
Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society website contains much useful and original material detailing the connection of the area to the Anzacs. Below is some of the material available and links to find it.

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Report

Read the report on our unveiling of our memorial by the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society’s Janet Bolitho by clicking on the link here.

New Research – The Diggers of Heath Street Port Melbourne

Read about this great piece of research carried out by Barb Mullen & Chris Griffiths, detailing how WW1 affected one street in Port Melbourne - 35 men from Heath Street, with less than 90 homes, volunteered. The research shows that the war had a devastating effect on the men - 3 did not return, 3 had serious mental health problems, 1 was an amputee, 27 others were discharged as medically unfit for any service and 1 escaped physically unscathed. Testimony to the terrible effects of the war and its impact locally. Read this story by clicking here.

New Research – The Anzacs of Port Melbourne

For all you researchers out there, here is a great website created by the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society on port Melbourne's links to the First World War. Lots of great information. Following the link by clicking here.

Jim Claven

Secretary

Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

You are Invited - 28th October OHI Day Commemoration in Melbourne

The Hellenic RSL Sub Branch has advised that this year's OHI Day commemorative services will be held on Friday, 28th October 2016. All welcome.

OHI Day
Ohi Day commemorates the rejection by Greece of Mussolini's ultimatum on 28 October 1940.  Mussolini had demanded Greece allow Axis forces to enter Greek territory and occupy certain unspecified "strategic locations" or otherwise face war. What followed was the defeat of the resulting Italian invasion as the Greek Army drove the Italian Army back deep into Albania.
The effective defeat of Italy saw Germany launch its invasion against the Greek and Allied forces.
The ill-fated defence of Greece by Greece and her Allies (including Australia's 6th AIF Division) against the German invasion was followed by the heroic Greek resistance until the withdrawal and defeat of German forces in Greece in late 1944. After a fighting retreat against overwhelming odds, Greek and Allied German offensive was successful. Greek.

Service Details
Details of the days commemorative events are as follows:

• 09.30am – Greek Orthodox Church Service at St Eustathios in 221 Dorcas St South Melbourne
• 12.00 noon – Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Australian Hellenic Memorial (Domain Gardens)
• 1.00pm – Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance
• 1.45pm – Refreshments at our sub-Branch, Memorial Hall, 14A Ferrars Place South Melbourne

For further information please contact Terry Kanelos, Secretary of the Hellenic RSL Sub Branch on 0414 209 674.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

You're Invited - Lemnos 1915 Presentation - Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society - Monday 26 September 2016

Historic postcard of Port Melbourne Town Hall, Bay Street, Port Melbourne.

Come along and hear my address on the role of Lemnos in 1915 to the Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society.
The presentation will be made at Port Melbourne's historic Town Hall building, erected in 1882.
The presentation is free and open to the public.
It is a great honour to give this presentation to one of the key historical socieies located in the City of Port Phillip - the location of our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial.

Sarpi Camp, Lemnos, 1915. AW Savage Collection. State Library of NSW

I will recount the often forgotten role that the Greek Island of Lemnos played in the Gallipoli campaign - as the forward base for the campaign, the location of soldiers' rest camps and field hospitals, where Australia's nurses served, where 148 diggers remain buried amongst the over 1,200 other Allied graves on the Island and the location for the armistice which ended the First World War in the east. And it was here that Australian soldiers and nurses experienced the culture and hospitality of their Greek hosts.
I will also identify some of the strong connections between Lemnos, Anzac and the Port Phillip area.

Details:

• When: 7.15pm for 7.30pm, Monday 26 September 2016 
• Where: Port Melbourne Historical and Preservation Society, First floor Council Chamber, Port Melbourne Town Hall, 333 Bay Street, Port Melbourne (enter from Spring Street South, Library entrance)

Thanks to Pat Grainger, Secretary of the PMHPS for extending the invitation ot me to make this address.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Hero - Brunswick FC player and Lieutenant Rupert Balfe Remembered

Joseph Balfe and Brunswick Football Club, 1908. Leader.

Joseph Rupert Balfe (always known as Rupert) was born in Brunswick 9th March 1890. He resided with his parents - Matthew and Sarah - at 6 Barkly Street, Brunswick. Educated at Princes Hill state school and then University High School, Rupert went on to study Medicine at the University of Melbourne. It is reported that while at the University, Rupert struck a friendship with a young law student, Robert Menzies, the future PM of Australia. 
A Keen Footballer
Rupert was a keen Australian Rules footballer, playing for Brunswick Football Club before moving the the VFL's University Football Club, playing in the 1909 and 1911 seasons.
He played in the 1908 VFA Grand Final, where Brunswick played against Footscray. Joseph was joined by two other Balfe's in the Brunswick team. The Final was played at the MCG, regarded as a coup for the VFA as this was the ground used by the VFL. The attendance earned the VFA over 1,000 pounds. Footscray would defeat Rupert's Brunswick by 24 points in front of 40,000 fans.
The Final was played on Monday, August 31, 1908, a public holiday during American Fleet Week. US Rear-Admiral Sperry’s fleet had sailed up Port Phillip Bay on Saturday August 29, 1908. The long weekend included races, an international boxing tournament at South Melbourne Football ground and the Royal Melbourne Show.

Enlistment
Rupert enlisted on 15 August 1914. He reported his over 4 years service wityh the Melbourne University Regiment, serving fifteen months as an officer. He applied for a commission and was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, AIF. He was 24 years and 5 months old. His Anzac service would ensure that he would not reach 26 years old.

Lieutenant Joseph Rupert Balfe. AWM

At the time Rupert's father was the Mayor of Brunswick.
The 6th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Like the 5th, 7th and 8th Battalions, it was recruited from Victoria and, together with these battalions, formed the 2nd Brigade. The battalion was raised within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later.

Second Lieutenant Rupert Balfe, September 1914. AWM

Above is a studio portrait of Rupert, taken alongside ten other diggers of the 6th Battalion. It was taken in September 1914 and he wears the distinctive cap of the Melbourne University Regiment.
Rupert sailed from Port Melbourne aboard the Hororata. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December 1914. 
Egypt
The Battalion made its way to the great Anzac Camp at Mena, where they trained and were reformed. Here in Egypt Rupert was promoted to Lieutenant. Rupert purchased 6 photographs of his Company at Mena. one of them is reproduced below. On the back, he wrote:
"The new "A Coy" [Company] in "close columns of Platoons in fours turned to a flank". I am on the extreme right of the front rank ie. nearest to you. I've got funny colored (sic) putties [puttees] on. Riddell is the next officer in the same line. Peter is in front turning round and in front again is Capt Hamilton. The Great Pyramid is on the left Cheops. Kephiew [Khufu] on the right. Most of the alabaster is gone. The tip that is still on can be seen."

Lieutenant Joseph Rupert Balfe and A Company, 6th Battalion, Mena Camp, January 1915. AWM

On 2 April - just over twenty days before the fateful landings at Anzac Cove - Rupert would be photographed with five other of the Battalion's officers at Mena. Rupert is standing on the right.

Rupert (standing right) with other 6th Battalion officers, Mena Camp, April 1915. AWM

One of Rupert's comrades in the 6th Battalion was Private Harry Gordon Craig. In a letter home, Harry described how the troops in Egypt had been given orders to get their kit ready and had been given 50 rounds of ammunition, taking the weight of their packs to something like 68kg.
They had then marched 19 kilometers to Cairo and had caught the train for Alexandria, arriving next morning.
They had boarded ships immediately and had sailed for Lemnos.  
Lemnos
Rupert and the 6th Battalion stayed for two weeks on Lemnos, where they prepared for the landings. He would have practiced disembarking and maybe landed on the Island to conduct route marches and various practice drills to prepare them for the coming landings. As an officer, Rupert may have ventured to Mudros or one of the other villages surrounding Lemnos' large Mudros Bay where his and other Allied ships were moored.

Joseph and the 6th Battalion aboard the Galeka. Lemnos, 1915. AWM

Anzac Cove - Rupert is Killed
Rupert sailed for Anzac Cove aboard the Galeka. Along with his Battalion, Rupert took part in the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915, as part of the second wave.
Rupert's comrade - Private Craig - wrote of the landing in a later letter:
"One night about 12 we sailed from where we were, about 4am I heard a gun burst over my head, so went down below - wasn't taking any risks. We had breakfast and then started to disembark.
"There were about four destroyers firing on the Turks, Queen Elizabeth, the London and don't know what the other two were. A Company was the first to land then B and C. I was looking out of the port hole and could see about a million Turks on the beach and cliffs banging away at our boys for all they were worth.
"We had to climb down the ship rope ladder into our boat. There were about 10 boats and 25 men in each boat. A tug took us within 100 yards of the beach and we had to row the rest of the way. The shrapnel was bursting all round us, also machine guns, rifle shot.
"We lost a lot of men before we landed, but our boat got ashore safely. The Naval Officer in our boat - a big fat chap - when a shrapnel burst within a yard of us laughed and said "Oh never mind them, the beggars couldn't hit a hay stack.
"I believe the first lot to arrive fixed bayonets in the water and did not wait for any orders but simply charged the Turks. Some of them dropped the guns and cried for mercy, which they didn't get, and the rest went for their lives to the trenches.
"Well we landed. We marched about 100 yards and then took a rest and then word came to go up into the firing line at once. We threw our packs away and then got on with the game. The country was so rough and scrubby that you couldn't see where you were going and the shrapnel was bursting all round us and the bullets were so thick that we thought they were bees buzzing about us ..."It was during this period, just after the landing, that Joseph was killed.
North Fitzroy's Sergeant Collins of the 6th Battalion - who had sailed with Rupert on the Hororata from Port Melbourne -  later reported that as they reached the beach a bursting artillery shell killed Rupert instantly. Sadly the Naval Officer's optimism had not protected Rupert.
He was buried at Shrapnel Gully, his grave marked with a wooden cross.

Joseph's grave would be here at Shrapnel Gully Cemetery, July 1915. AWM

The cemetery was the largest near Anzac Cove and suffered much shellfire damage throughout the Gallipoli campaign. It appears that after the war, Rupert's grave site could not be found so he is today recorded on the Memorial to the Missing at Lone Pine.

Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli. Photo Jim Claven 2015

Lieutenant Joseph Rupert Balfe's name listed (on left) amongst the 6th Battalion missing, Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli. Photo Jim Claven 2015

His death would be mourned back in Melbourne. It is recorded that the Brunswick Council noted his death and recorded their sympathy for the Mayor and his wife's loss. Brunswick Football Club players wore "black armbands ... in memory of their old comrade."
Other AFL Players who have died in war
This post was prompted by a recent edition of the AFL's Record (Round 5, 22-25 August 2016) which contains a list of all AFL players who served and who were killed in war.
This list includes the three Anzac's killed during the Greek campaign of 1941 or over Greece during WW2 - Lance Bombardier John (Jack) Montague Drake killed at Brallos Pass, Bombardier Leo (Gus) Young killed at sea during the battle for Crete, and  Pilot Officer Beresford Stanley "Beres" Reilly killed over Crete.
Thanks to our Committee's Deb Stewart for providing a copy of the AFL Record magazine.
To download this list, click here.


Jim Claven
Secretary 
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Out Now - Lemnos Sister Evelyn Hutt's story and photos in SLV La Trobe Journal

Recently I was invited to submit an article for publication to the State Library of Victoria's bi-annual La Trobe Journal (edition No. 98, September 2016). The Journal is now available for purchase.
My article is entitled - "The Sister Evelyn Hutt World War 1 Collection - an Australian nurse at war." It recounts Evelyn's story, her war service on Lemnos and beyond and reproduces some of her beautiful and unique photographs of Lemnos.
Last year I assisted the family of Evelyn - Judith Gunnarsson and Deb Stewart (one of our Committee members) - in donating Evelyn's extensive collection to the State Library of Victoria. My article would not have been possible but for the generosity of Judith and Deb in acquainting me with Evelyn's collection and in donating for the benefit of future generations. And thanks to Committee member Arlene Bennett for introducing his all.

One of Evelyn's amazing collection of photographs taken on Lemnos in 1915. Evelyn Hutt Collection, State Library of Victoria.

My article has been published alongside a number of other articles describing and celebrating the State Library's exetensive collection of photographs, letters, diaries and other important memorabilia from the First Wordl War. The edition is entitled: "Collecting and Commemorating World War 1 and the State Library Victoria." Along with the Australian War Memorial and the State Library of NSW, the State library Victoria has one of the most extensive collections of material relating to WW1. This Journal explains the extent, depth and often unique quality of the material held at the Library.

Some of the other articles in the Journal are:

• Bronwyn Hughes "'Y'rs affectionately, Mont': the World War 1 correspondence of William Montgomery", which includes references to Lemnos and the torpedoing of Troopship Southland off Lemnos. 
• Lucy Bracey, "Personal records of World War 1: State Library Victoria collection highlights", includes reference to the war diary of Alfred Love and its references to Lemnos; and Chaplain Thomas Bennett's Christmas Billy tin from Lemnos.

Also of interested are Kevin Molloy's article on the collection of J.G. Roberts, re-telling an Irish aspect of the Anzac story, and John Arnold's article on the Library's honour board commemorating those Library staff who served and those who died in WW1. There are also articles relating to the Library's extensive collection of German propaganda pamphlets, the battle of Fromelles, Patsy Adam-Smith and her researching of her book The Anzacs and more! A great read and a good buy.

The Journal was published this week and is available for purchase at the Readings bookshop outlet at the State Library of Victoria. The Journal price is $30.
A Friend of the Library
You can receive the two annual editions of the La Trobe Journal by becoming a Friend of the Library. For details follow this link.
Thank You 
I would like to thank Dr Kevin Molley, Manuscripts Collection Manager, and John Arnold (Jounal co-Editor) for encouraging me to submit my article for publication.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee