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.

Princes Pier's WW1 connection remembered - Neos Kosmos 25th Oct 2014

Yesterday's Neos Kosmos carried a great article reporting on our stall at the recent Prince's Pier (Port Melbourne) Centenary event, commemorating the departure of the first AIF convoy from Port Melbourne.
To read and download the article, click here.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Their Journey is our Story - Christina Despoteris tells her family story to Neos Kosmos

Soldier Dimitrios Despoteris, Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014

Today's  Neos Kosmos has a lovely story re-telling the family story of one of our Committee members, Chrirstina Despoteris.
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.

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."

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

Dimitrios' unit , Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014

Dimitrios' unit in the Middle East, Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014

Dimitrios' unit marching, Greek Army, WW2. Reproduced with permission. Private Collection of Christina Despoteris 2014

Neos Kosmos article on Lemnian Community 75th Anniversary Event

 Dear all, pictured below and on the download link below is the recent article published in Neos Kosmos newspaper on the Lemnian Community of Victoria's recent 75th anniversary Gala Dinner Dance.
Thank you to Christina Despoteris for the article.
View and download page one by clicking here.
View and download page two by clicking here.
Jim Claven 
Secretary 
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

 

Brisbane Hospital Exhibition honors medical staff role in WW1

A new exhibition has opened at Brisbane Hospital honoring the medical staff, including its nurses, who served in WW1. It tells the story of Matron Grace Wilson and other nurses who served. The exhibition includes memorabilia.
The ABC TV report states:
"A new World War I museum in Brisbane is paying tribute to the doctors, nurses and orderlies who served on the battlefront from 1914 to 1918. During that time more than 100 medical staff left their posts at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (RBWH) to help tend to the sick and wounded.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove opened the Hospital Healers exhibition at the hospital's Nursing Museum, praising their vital role in the war. "I'd like to think that a desperately wounded World War I soldier committed to hospital would wake up to see tending to him an Australian nurse, would have felt that much closer to home, that much more comforted," he said.
The exhibition features diary extracts, letters and clothing of nurses like Dorothy Francis Webb, who was 26 years old when she enlisted on 20 July 1915.
Her grandson Stephen Maguire said the museum was a powerful reminder of what his grandmother endured.
"Must have been horrific," he said."She had three years on the western front and the only break seems to be, from her war record, when she got sick. She didn't talk much of what happened over there - what she would have seen would have made anyone ill."
Sister Webb was discharged from service in 1918 and awarded a Red Cross medallion. She is one of many nurses featured in the display.
The exhibition will run for the duration of the World War I centenary."

To watch the ABC report on the new exhibition, click here.
Thanks to Faye Threfall for alerting me to this new exhibition.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Princes Pier First Convoy Commemoration A Success

Our packed stall at Princes Pier today. Photo Jim Claven

Today's commemoration of the departure of the first AIF convoy to leave Princes Pier was a great success.
It was well attend, with hundreds flowing through the marquees, listening to the music, theatre and speeches.
The event featured re-enactments, with actors dressed as nurses, diggers and members of the public from 1914.

The skirl o' the pipes - The Rats of Tobruk pipe band. Photo Jim Claven 2014

The Rats of Tobruk pipe band. Photo Jim Claven 2014

The feature of the event was a formal ceremony at the bandstand near Station Pier, followed by a massed pipe band - The Rats of Tobruk Pipe Band - leading dignitaries on to Princes Pier.The day concluded with a light show commemorating the departure of the Orvieto and the other ships of the first convoy.The followingf two photos were poster by the Hon Ted Baillieu MP and Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee chair:

 

The event was organised by the Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee and the City of Port Phillip. Well done.

Our display. Photo Jim Claven 2014

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee were able to staff a stall at the event. Business was brisque - there was hardly a moment when we were not explaining the Lemnos story, answering queries, hearing the stories of diggers and nurses who served or are buried on Lemnos from their descedents.
Many visitors generously shared their family memories and precious memorabilia with us.
They included the relative of New South Welshman 2nd Lieutenant John Harrison of the 3rd Battalion AIF who lies buried in Portianos Military Ceremony on Lemnos. Other descendents includes those of Sergeant James Reginald Matthews of the 7th Battalion AIF, Private A.G. Laws of the 7th Battalion, Digger N.W.J. Davis and Digger Alfred Ernest McGuire of the 22nd Battalion. All served on Lemnos.
Below is some of the memorabilia shared with us by their families today. Thanks to all who shared it with us and apologies for any errors in our report.

Sergeant Matthews' AIF pay book

Digger Davis enlistment disc.

Message sent to all Allied troop establishments and hospitals informing them of the Gallipoli landings

Many contacts were made and new membership applications received.
What a fantastic day.

Showing off our statue model - Me, with Paul's daughter and Martin Foley MP for Albert Park and supporter. Photo Paul Soug

People were keen to support our projects by buying our posters and books. And we sold out of our famous Lemnos Gallipoli badges!

LGCC stall volunteers with the Hon Ted Baillieu MP. Photo Jim Claven 2014

 LGCC Stall volunteers with Martin Foley MP. Photo Christina Despoteris 2014

The chair of the Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee, the Hon Ted Baillieu, congratulated us on our stall.
We were also visited by Committee members Martin Foley MP, Michael Danby MHR and Lambis Englezos and many others.

Ken Volaris, Lee Tarlamis, Nik Kydas and George Petrou. Photo Jim Claven 2014

On behalf of the Committee, I'd like to thank Lee Tarlamis, MP, Ken Volaris, Nik Kydas, George Petrou and Christina Despoteris for helping us out for the day. Volunteers are the strength of our Committee. Well done.

Christina Despoteris and Ken Volaris with our precious statue maquette. Photo Christina Despoteris 2014

A big thank you to Sandra Khazam at the City of Port Phillip for helping us make our stall a reality.
Below is a facsimile brochure produced for the event - images from the embarkation of the troops from port Melbourne from The Australasian (Melbourne), 21st November 1914.
All photos are my own unless stated otherwise.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee