105th Anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine

6th August marks the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine, the opening of the August Offensive. Below is the media release from the Minister for Veteran's Affairs.

This Offensive was one of the main reasons for the expansion of medical services on Lemnos, which included the arrival of Australia's (and Canada's) nurses on the Island. Many of the wounded from the Offensive would be brought to Lemnos for care and some would succumb and be buried in Lemnos' military cemeteries.

Lest we forget.

Jim Claven

Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 5 August 2020

105^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LONE PINE

TOMORROW marks the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine at Gallipoli in Turkey, one of the most intense battles in our ANZAC history during the First World War.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the attack at Lone Pine was a diversion to assist the main assault by New Zealand and British troops against the Sari Bair Range at Gallipoli by drawing Turkish reserves away from the attacks against Hill 971, Hill Q, and Chunuk Bair.

“The goal of the attack at Lone Pine was to assist with the capture of the heights, which would have enabled a break out from the ‘Anzac’ area and at 5:30 pm on 6 of August 1915, after a preliminary artillery bombardment, Australian infantry charged at the enemy trench-line,” Mr Chester said.

“The Australian troops showed immense courage in the face of fierce resistance and the main Turkish trench was taken within 20 minutes, however, the fighting continued for days as the Turks mounted several counter-attacks in attempts to recapture the position.

“To hold on to what they had gained, the Australians fought with resilience and resolve, using bombs and bayonets, and engaging in hand-to-hand combat.

“During the four-day battle there were more than 2,000 Australian casualties and seven Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery, a testament to the ferocity of the action and the many acts of bravery shown by the ANZACs.”

Another diversionary attack during the August offensive was the charge at the Nek. This was a tragic assault by the dismounted 3rd Light Horse Brigade, which was intended to draw Turkish defenders away from Chunuk Bair as New Zealand troops advanced against it. Tragically the attack didn't go as planned and most of the Australian light horsemen fell before they reached the Turkish trenches.

“The service and sacrifice of these brave men will never be forgotten,” Mr Chester said.

The Australian War Memorial will hold a Last Post ceremony to commemorate this significant anniversary at 4.55 pm AEST on 6 August. Tickets are available to attend in person and the ceremony will be streamed online. Register for a ticket on the Memorial website www.awm.gov.au/visit.

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Rachel Tharratt: 02 6277 7820

DVA Media: 02 6289 6466

Office of the Hon. Darren Chester, Canberra ACT.

Announcement - 2020's Lemnos Gallipoli Commemoration Event Cancelled

This year’s annual Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial commemoration has been cancelled. The event was scheduled to have been held on Saturday, 8th August 2020, at the Memorial at Lemnos Square, Albert Park. This year's annual event falls on the actual day that Australia's nurses arrived on the Greek Island of Lemnos 105 years ago.The photograph by Anthony Leong above is from the Memorial's unveiling in 2015.

This is the first time since the unveiling of the Memorial in August 2015 that we have not held our annual service. We do so with a heavy heart but in recognition of the current Covd-19 restrictions. The photograph by Anthony Leong above is from the Memorial's unveiling in 2015.

Now is the time for all of us to take care of each other by wearing a mask or face covering, practicing social distancing, and following all the restrictions now in place.

On Saturday, 8th August, I would ask that we all remember the service of those Australian men and women who came to Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign, as well as those local Lemnians who assisted them. The medical staff - doctors, nurses and orderlies - on Lemnos in 1915-16 cared for thousands of wounded and sick soldiers in trying circumstances, under the heat of summer and the wind and rains of winter - like medical officer Stanley Argyle, Matron Grace Wilson, Staff Nurses Evelyn Hutt and Lucy Daw, dispenser and orderly Henry Gissing and hundred's more. This care saw the vast majority of those they cared for survive the ravages of war. Below is a photograph of the nurse from the Memorial taken by Jim Claven.

In holding our annual service we honour the service of these medical staff. This year, we should also think of all our health care workers who are working so hard to keep us all safe as well as those who, while caring for those in our community, have contracted Covid-19. We all owe them a debt of respect for doing their important work at this difficult time.

Our Committee will be working towards the return of our annual service on 14th August 2021. I would like to thank both Christina Despoteris (Vice-President) and Jim Claven (Secretary) for the work they have already carried out on our annual commemoration.

We are hopeful that our annual Armistice of Mudros commemorative service at the Shrine of Remembrance will be able to proceed as scheduled on 31^st October 2020. However this will depend on what restrictions are in place at that time. We will advise further closer to this event.

In the meantime, our Committee continues to work to advance the commemoration of the Hellenic link to Australia's Anzac story. Current projects include our proposals for the extension of the Gallipoli Medallion to cover those who served on Lemnos (and surrounding Islands and waters), the installation in the Shrine Gardens of a memorial plaque (and naming of a tree) honouring those Australians who served in the Salonika campaign, and the possible donation of George Petrou's impressive painting of Grace Wilson to one of Melbourne's major health facilities associated with Grace. We are also working on a range of activities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Australia's involvement in the Greek campaign of 1941, including the publication of our Secretary's new book on the latter.

Lee Tarlamis MP OAM, President, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee