Across the Sea to War - Australia and NZ Troop Convoys from 1865 - Book Review

This book contains invaluable information on the various troopships that departed Australian and New Zealand in the First World War.
It tells of the ships traveling in convoys in the first year of the conflict due to the presence of German naval forces in the seas. After the defeat of the German naval forces, convoys were dispensed with. The book restores the role of these troopships and convoys in the history of the First World War. 
It tells the story of the ships, there conversion to troopships from liners, and relates the experience of the soldiers and nurses who travelled on them to war.
Ships like the Euripides, Ulysses and Themistocles. It tells of their voyages around Australia, across the Indian Ocean, to Colombo, India, the Suez Canal and to Egypt. From there they went on to Gallipoli - via Lemnos - and subsequently to Thessaloniki and Western France.

The majority of the book also contains in-depth coverage of the troop convoys of the Second World War.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the story of how the Anzacs travelled to war.
Sadly, the one deficiency of the book is that it fails to record the presence of the troopships in the great harbour of Mudros, Lemnos. This needs to be rectified.

If you would like to purchase this book click here

1st Division AIF reinforcements play cricket aboard the HMAT Themistocles (A32), part of the 2nd Australian convoy to that left Australia on 31 December 1914. Jan 1915. AWM C01927

Lemnos Gallipoli Committee at Melbourne's Glendi Festival

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee recently held a stall at Melbourne-Thessaloniki Glendi festival in Federation Square in central Melbourne. The festival marks the 29th anniversary of the Sister-City relationship between Melbourne and Thessaloniki.

The Committee took the opportunity to tell our story and promote the need to commemorate Greece's link to Anzac. We erected our photographic display that was viewed by many visitors to the Festival.

We also had information regarding Thessaloniki's role in the Anzac story - It is often forgotten that over 450 Australian nurses and soldiers fought in the Salonika campaign in WW1, including famous Australian author and orderly Miles Franklin, Matron Jessie McHardie White from Healesville and Melbourne University trained Doctor Mary de Garis. Lieutenant Ned Herring served on this front - and would return here to defend Greece in 1941. 

Committee Member the Hon John Pandazopoulos MP organised the stall and wrote a letter of congratulation to the Festival organisers that is repropduced below for your information:

Many people visited the stall, many leaflets were distributed, new members recruited and our Memorial badges sold.

Thanks to John Pandazopoulos MP, Lee Tarlamis MP, Jim Claven and Ken Volaris for supporting the stall.

 

Lemnos Memorial Lapel Badge - Buy One Now!

The Committee has just received its new Memorial Lapel Badge.
These new badges have been specifically designed as one of our main fundraising vehicles. The design incorporates the image of Matron Grace Wilson, of the 3rd Australian General Hospital, and the Australian and Greek flags. They are mounted on an attractive descriptive card.
They are for sale for a modest $5 - and of course we welcome additional donations for the badges!
Proceeds from the sale of the badges will go to funding the establishment of the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial and associated commemorative promotional material.
If you would like to purchase a badge or a group of them to give to your friends, please contact either Lee Tarlamis on 0411553009 (or email lee.tarlamis@parliament.vic.gov.au) or Jim Claven on 0409402388. You can purchase a badge direct by visiting Lee Tarlamis' office at 157a Sladen Street, Cranbourne.

Lemnos Looks Back - A History of Lemnos in Victoria

This beautiful liitle booklet was prepared in 1987 by local historian Ms Elsie Brady.
It is full of lots of historical information not recorded anywhere else. It tells the story of the Lemnos Primary School, as well as of the Lemnos township, recounting the working and social life of the town and its people.
It recounts the establishment of the township as a Soldier Settlement in 1919-20. It tells of the first settlers, amongst them many Anzacs who had served at Gallipoli and of the famous Ernie Hill, who had proposed the name of the new settlement as Lemnos.
It contains many reminiscences of the settlers, of the hard times at the beginning as the farms were being established by the ex-soldiers in their spare time - as they had to work in neighboring farms to feed themselves and their families.
It also tells of the various migrant families who arrived in the district - from the 1930's but mostly after the war - and how's children were educated in the local Primary School. Some of the Hellenic background families included the Damianopoulos, Giankos, Kalafatis, Michalaidis, Alabakis, Kiriacos, Pateros, Papoulis, Christou families - as well as other migrant families whose children attended the school.
The booklet records the achievements of the Lemnos Football Club and other sporting clubs established in the township.
This booklet serves to remind us all of the link between Lemnos, Gallipoli and Anzac - and Australia. It provides evidence of the strong impression Lemnos left with those visiting diggers in 1915 and of the many Hellenic migrant families who settled in this little corner of Victoria, called Lemnos.
Thanks to Barrie Hill (Ernie Hill's son) for alerting me to this great publication and to Ms Jenny Kop of Lemnos Primary School for providing this amazing booklet.

Lemnos Heroes - Sandringham's Able Seaman Thomas Chitts and Bendigo's Stoker John Godier

Australian Cruiser HMAS Brisbane, the only cruiser constructed in Australia, December 1916. AWM image P01886.001

Amongst the last soldiers, airmen and sailors to be buried on Lemnos were these two Australian sailors, Able Seaman Thomas James Chitts and Stoker 2nd Class John Francis Godier.
These young sailors were only in their twenties when the died on Lemnos. This is their story.
Thomas was born in Sandringham, the son of George and Margaret Chitts. He had joined the Royal Australian Navy on 14th August 1912 and served on various ships throughout his service. He served on HMAS Yarra which would go on to serve in the Adriatic, operating out of Corfu and Brindisi, and would be part of the Allied forces who entered Constantinople in 1919.

HMAS Sydney leaves the Australian troopship comvoy to search for the German Raider SMS Emden, off WA coast, November 1914. AWM image H02014

He also served on the Australian Light Cruiser the HMAS Sydney from July 1914 until March 1916. During his service he saw action against the German Raider SMS Emden - which Thomas and the crew of the Sydney successfully destroyed in the Battle of Cocos in 9 November 1914. This was a major naval engagement, the HMAS Sydney being hit by the SMS Emden's long range guns, killing four and wounding twelve of Thomas' fellow sailors. After continuing with its convoy protection work, Thomas and the HMAS Sydney saw service in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

The Ship's Band of the HMAS Brisbane performing on its deck. AWM image A00103.

Thomas began his service on the HMAS Brisbane on 1st October 1918. This was one of the first cruiser class vessels constructed in Australia at Cockatoo, Sydney. After service in the Pacific and Indian Ocean, HMAS Brisbane departed Australia at Fremantle for England on 30th October 1918 - the day the Armistice of Mudros was signed ending the war with the Ottoman Empire. She proceeded to Lemnos, arriving on 26th November 1918 and spent a month with the Australian Destroyer Flotilla in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Sea of Marmara, Constantinople and the Black Sea before completing her voyage at Portsmouth in January 1919. Photographs held in the Australian War Memorial (reproduced below) show the HMAS Brisbane arriving at Smyrne on the Asia Minor coast to enforce the terms of the Armistice.

Grave of Thomas Chitts, East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos. Photograph Jim Claven 2013.

It was during her service in the waters surrounding Lemnos, that Able Seaman Chitts succumbed to pneumonia and died on 2 December 1918. He is buried at East Mudros Military Cemetery on Lemnos, at Plot 4, Row A, Grave 3.
Stoker 2nd Class John Godier was another HMAS Brisbane sailor who died and is buried on Lemnos. John was born in Neilborough, near Bendigo in 1898. When he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy on 20th May 1918, his parents were resident in Yarraville. His service records states that he was able an of "very good' character".
He transferred to the HMAS Brisbane on 27th August 1918 and would serve on her until his death in December. Like Able Seaman Chitts, John died of pneumonia and was buried in East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos - in Plot 4, Row A, Grave 4.

Grave of John Godier, East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Both these Australian sailors were buried on Lemnos only a few weeks after the official armistice had been signed ending the war between the Allies and the Ottoman Empire – an armistice that had been signed aboard HMAS Agamemnon in that same very harbour. It would be hoped that Thomas and John were aware that the war was now over – even though he would not survive to enjoy the peace.

Lest we forget.

HMAS Brisbane enters Smyrne harbour. 13 December 1918. AWM image EN0144

Residents of Smyrne on the Asia Minor coast looking out to the harbour to welcome the HMAS Brisbane. 13 December 1918. AWM image EN0147

Lemnos Heroes - Lakes Entrance's Private William Cleave Carstairs

Grave of Private William Cleave Carstairs, Portianos Military Cemetery. Photograph Jim Claven 2012

William Carstairs was a 22 year old labourer from Cunninghame, Lakes Entrance, Victoria, when he enlisted in the AIF on the 10th December 1914 at the recruitment centre at Bairnsdale in Gippsland.  He was enlisted into the 4th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion. William would have stood out amongst his fellow recruits, standing as he did at over 6 feet tall.
The 8th Battalion was one of the first Battalions raised by the AIF during the First World War. Recruited from rural Victoria, along with other Victorian battalions (the 5th, 6th and 7th) it formed the 2nd Brigade. It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Bolton and embarked for overseas October 1914.
After training in Egypt, the 8th Battalion took part in the landing at anzac on the 25th April as part of the second wave. Ten days later, the Battalion was transferred to Cape Helles to take part in the attack on Krithia, losing a third of its strength in the attack.
The Battalion returned to Anzac Cove to help defend the beachhead. William was one of the reinforcements to the 8th Battalion at Anzac on 26th May 1915.
The unhealthy conditions on the peninsula began to take their toll on William. On 4th June 1915 he was reported sick with "cough and pains" and was evacuated to Egypt aboard the Hospital Ship Clacton. He arrived at Alexandria and was transferred to the British Convalescent Camp at nearby Mustapha. He was diagnosed as suffering from influenza. 

British Convalescent Camp, Mustapha, Alexandria, Egypt. AWM image.

William returned to his unit at the Gallipoli peninsula on 27th June 1915. He then served for next few months, taking part in some of the major engagements of the Anzac campaign there. While William was with the 8th Battalion at Anzac it took part in the August Offensive at Lone Pine. They were positioned along Second Ridge at Courtney's Post, between Quinns and Steele's Posts. The were involved in providing covering support for the attacks on Johnston's Jolly and the German Officers Trench

Camp area on the steep hillside held by the 8th Battalion from June to July 1915, Steele's Post, Anzac Area. William would have served here. AWM image P01580.015

The poor conditions on the peninsula, which resulted in thousands of the Anzacs being brought down with dysentery due to the unsanitary conditions, now brought down young William.
On 16th September 1915 he was reported sick and transferred from the peninsula to the Australian hospitals at Lemnos. By the 24th September he was reported to be "dangerously ill". After suffering for three weeks, Williams succumbed on 18th October to the effects of dysentery while being cared for by the Austrlaian nurses at the 3rd Australian General Hospital.

Tent lines of the 3rd Australian General Hospital where William was treated, Turks Head Peninsula, Lemnos, 1915. AWM image J01438

He was buried in Plot 4, Row A, Grave 181, at Portianos Military Cemetery on 18th October 1915, with Chaplain J.A. Kuhnig officiating.

Two AIF Army chaplains on Lemnos. AWM image J01407

Through the correspondence contained in William's service records and the Red Cross file, the anguish of his parents - especially his mother Alice - back in Lakes Entrance, is revealed as they sought to find out more about their sons death and their desire to have his personal effects returned to them. This must have been the experience of many thousands of Australian families as they faced the reality of the future without the return of their loved ones.
The surviving members of William's unit would follow him to Lemnos in December 1915 as the peninsula was evacuated. It is touching to think that some of his comrades may have visited his grave at the nearby Portianos Military Cemetery. Portianou (as it is now called) lies on a few kilometers from the main Anzac Rest Camp at Sarpi.

A group of officers from William's 8th Battalion on Lemnos, December 1915. AWM image C01197

For Jan Davis.

Time to Reflect on the Armistice of Mudros - Ballarat Courier

The grave stone of Corporal Charles E Gunn from Ballarat. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Ballarat's daily newspaper, the Courier, last weekend published a major three page spread on the Ballarat connection to Lemnos and Gallipoli, and the story of the Armistice of Mudros.
One of Ballarat's Anzac's who remains on Lemnos, buried at East Mudros Military Cemetery, with his fellow Anzac's is Corporal Charles Gunn. He was 22 year old carpenter from Sebastopol, near Ballarat, who enlisted on 7th January 1915 into D Company, 21st AIF Battalion. He never made it to Gallipoli because he was one of the forty who died due to the torpedoing of his transport ship, the HMT Southland, on 2nd September 1915 by the German submarine UB-14, 30 nautical miles from Lemnos.
Since the articles have been published, many Ballarat readers have contacted Jim Claven with local stories and connections - including the relatives of Charles Gunn.
Read the articles from the Courier by clicking on the links below:
A Tale of Brave Australians - Ballarat Courier - 9 Nov 2013
Time to Reflect on the Armistice of Mudros pg1 - Ballarat Courier - 9 November 2013
Time to Reflect on the Armistice of Mudros pg2 - Ballarat Courier - 9 November 2013
Thanks to the Courier for publishing these stories.

First World War - Share Your UK Stories - Lemnos

One of the UK's leading daily newspapers, The Guardian, has launched a drive for readers to contribute their personal family stories of the First World War.
One of those highlighted is from Lemnos:
A contributor sent in the above image, saying that their great-uncle Tom Squire was on Lemnos after evacuation from Gallipoli. The photo represents the whole of D Squadron, City of London Yeomanry or all that was left of 160 men after action on the peninsula. Sergeant Squire died near Ramallah in November 1917 during the Palestine campaign.
Click below to see The Guardian's WW1 page:
The Guardian UK - First World War - Share Your Stories
Great initiative by The Guardian - similar to Monash University's 100 stories project.

Voyage to Gallipoli - New Book

This new book by maritime historian, Peter Plowman, tells the story of how Australia transported its troops and nurses to Lemnos and Gallipoli in WW1.
At the commencement of World War I in 1914, Australia had only been a nation for 13 years and the RAN was only three years old (NZ had been a dominion for 7 years and had no independent navy). Transporting the Anzacs to war was a massive undertaking. This book tells the story of the planning stages and the requisition of ships through to the Gallipoli landing of 25 April 1915.
The book tells of the mobilization of troops and sailors, requisition and refitting of ships, the convoys and number of voyages, various changes of plan and destination, and the assistance offered by ships of allied navies. Drawing on newspaper accounts, diaries and memoirs of sailors and soldiers involved, the book describes conditions on board - training, sport, exercise, living and eating conditions, hygiene, medical examinations and supervision, even 'crossing the line' festivities; also conditions for horses - and details of convoy formation. By the time of the blooding of ANZAC forces at Gallipoli, the force had been moulded very much 'on board' and 'in transit'. Two appendices give details of all the transport ships involved.At the commencement of World War I in 1914
This book is available from good bookshops and on-line.

Jack's Journey - Kit Cullen's new book

Australian author Kit Cullen has written a great new book about some of our unheralded Anzacs and a forgotten engagement at Gallipoli. He was interviewed on the ABC 774 last week. One of the main Anzac's featured in the book is Jack Collyer of the 4th Battalion. The book re-counts his time on Lemnos and his ultimate burial at sea following his wounding in the bloody battle at Death Trap Valley in May 1915.
Here's a summary of the book from the ABC Shop website:
The moving and extraordinary story of an unheralded and virtually unknown Anzac action that occurred in Death Trap Valley on May 1st and 2nd 1915 during the period of the landing at Gallipoli and how the truth of what happened was corrupted by a noted historian.
Jack's Journey is the moving and extraordinary story of an unknown ANZAC action at Gallipoli during the period of the Landing on 1 and 2 May, 1915. Kit Cullen began tracing Jack Collyer's story using his three diaries and his service record. The diaries cover the voyage from Australia to training in Egypt and Lemnos and, finally, landing at Anzac. Unfortunately, the last diary ended as Jack entered the firing line on Bolton's Ridge at dusk on 25 April. He was wounded a week later. Where was Jack and what was he doing when he was wounded?
What Kit discovered over ten years of painstaking research is extraordinary. On 1 May Jack and about fifty other members of No. 15 Platoon 4th Battalion were ordered to go to the aid of about 60 Royal Marines who had been trapped for two and a half days in an isolated trench. The Marines were running out of ammunition and water and needed support. Before dawn Jack and his mates entered the valley, which they christened Death Trap Valley, before dawn and positioned themselves in Loutit's Post overlooking the Marines for most of the day under heavy enemy fire. The 4th Battalion's rescue mission was undertaken at the height of the third Turkish counter attack. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the ANZACs were ordered to resupply the Marines with ammunition and water and to reinforce their line. To do so meant running the gauntlet of the death trap - an exposed fifty metre long track, marked by the Turks as a killing ground. As the platoon braved the death trap, one by one, most of them were killed or wounded, including Jack.
Snowy Robson carried ammunition and water to the beleaguered garrison without being hit. An hour later he also guided and took charge of No.3 Platoon 4th Battalion which was ordered into the valley to reinforce the isolated trench. In all, Snowy diced the death trap six times - five in daylight - without being hit. The position and the Marines were saved.
Five Allied gallantry medals were awarded for the action, including the first Victoria Cross at Anzac. Walter Parker, a Royal Marine stretcher bearer, was the recipient. Snowy Robson was awarded a Distinguished Conduct Medal for his feats.
The other extraordinary aspect of the 4th Battalion's participation in the action was the corruption of the historical record by Charles Bean. Bean omitted any reference to the 4th Battalion in his telling of the story in the Official History, despite knowing what happened. Instead, he gave the credit for saving the Marines to his brother's unit, the 3rd Battalion, which played a part on 2 May in relieving the Marines and the remnants of the two 4th Battalion parties. Bean misused a letter from the Royal Marine hierarchy specifically praising the 4th Battalion's sacrifice and courage, claiming its sentiments for the 3rd Battalion. The tragic heroism of Jack and his mates, and Bean's historiographical skulduggery would have remained hidden if Kit Cullen hadn't stumbled on them in the course of his research.
A review of the book is contained at the following link - Historian Charles Bean "distorted" Gallipoli story to credit brother - The Australian, 14 September 2013
To buy the book, click on the following link - Kit Cullen's Jack's Journey

Anzac Memories - Living with the Legend - Revisited - ABC Interview with Monash Uni Historian Alistair Thomson

Anzac Fred Farrall - one of the subjects of Alistair Thomson's book.

ABC Radio National broadcast a very interesting interview with Monash University historian Alistair Thomson on the release of the updated version of his great book Anzac Memories - Living with the Legend, originally published on 1994. It is a great interview and shows how research into the history of Anzac is continuing and being enriched by historians such as Alistair. Enjoy.
He will launch his book at Readings Bookshop in Kew at 6.30 on 11 November - For details click the following -  Kew Launch

Here's the intro for the interview from the ABC:
In the early 1980s, the historian Alistair Thomson began recording the oral histories of veterans of the First World War, with particular focus on how these men remembered their wartime experience.  These interviews formed the basis for the book ‘Anzac Memories –Living with the Legend', published in 1994.
Thirty years after it's first publication Alistair Thomson decided to return to this history. The three key veterans with whom he'd recorded oral histories, and written about in his book, were no longer alive, but, in recent years, a new source of information had become available to researchers and historians of war - the records of the Repatriation Department (now known as The Department of Veterans Affairs). The 'Repat' was responsible for the medical assessment and care of veterans, as well as for the provision of pensions. These case files offer new ways of understanding the post war lives of soldiers, and how these men, and often their families, tried to make sense of the legacies of their war time experience. The 'Repat' files also offer rich insights into the history of medicine, psychology and the treatment of mental illness, and reveal the shifts and changes in the way the state responded to veterans of war.
An updated edition of 'Anzac Memories' has just been released, and in this interview Alistair Thomson discusses the findings of his research into the Repatriation Department case files of one of the veterans he recorded and wrote about in the first edition of the book, the late Fred Farrall.
His book is published by Monash University Press and available in most good bookshops. You can find out more about the book by clicking this link.
Click on the link below to listen to the interview:
Anzac Memories Interview - ABC Radio National

President Lee Tarlamis' Interview on 3XY

Many of you will know that Lee was recently interviewed on Melbourne's Greek community radio, 3XY, promoting our Lemnos Memorial sculpture project.

For those who missed it, click on the link below to download and listen to the interview.

Lee Tarlamis' 3XY Interview
Well done Lee and thanks to 3XY.

New Neos Kosmos reports on our Fundraiser and Shepparton Ohi Day Addresses

Greek Ex-Servicemen's Association at Lemnos Primary School, Shepparton. Lee Tarlamis MP at rear, Clair Gazis of Neos Kosmos second on the left. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Neos Kosmos has covered two of our recent events in its edition last Saturday.
It includes a lengthy report in Greek on our recent successful fundraiser at Parliament House. It also includes a report in English on our visit to Shepparton, along with the Greek Ex-Servicemen's Association, for the commemoration of Ohi Day. Our visit include meeting with the very information local Shepparton RSL President, Mr Peter McPhee, OAM, the local football club (formerly the Lemnos Ramblers Football Club) and a Lemnos Gallipoli photographic display and addresses by Jim Claven and John Pandazopoulos at the Ohi Day lunch at the Shepparton RSL.
Fundraising Event and Shepparton Ohi Day Address - Neos Kosmos 2 November 2013
Thanks to Eugenia Pavlopoulou and Claire Gazis at Neos Kosmos.

Jim Claven
Secretary LGCC

Lee Tarlamis MP promotes our Memorial project on 3XY

President Lee Tarlamis MP addresses our recent fundraiser. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

Earlier this afternoon LGCC President, Lee Tarlamis MP, was interviewed on Melbourne's premier Greek community radio station 3XY Radio Hellas.
Lee was interviewed on the work of the Committee to date, especially our proposal for a new Memorial statue in Melbourne commemorating Lemnos' role in Gallipoli campaign.
He pointed out the range of projects that we have been initiating or supporting both here and on Lemnos, especially the enhancement of Lemnos' Anzac trail.
He pointed out that our story on the role of Lemnos in Australia's Anzac story had received coverage in regional Victoria, such as Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton, telling the story of the local Aussie links to Lemnos through the personal stories of our individual Anzacs.
He explained the great work our scupltor, Peter Corlett, OAM, has undertsaken to date in creating a design for the Memorial. Peter is Australia's pre-eminent commemorative scultptor.
He explained that our first fundraiser held at Parliament House last week had been a great success, spreading the story, creating awareness and raising over $40,000 in pledges towards the Memorial.
But much needs to be done to make the statue a reality. Lee explained that we need approximately $220,000 to finance the Memorial and the Committee is currently at work seeking further pledges and donations.
Thanks to Rena and 3XY for helping tell our story.

Memorial Donations
Foundation and Supporting Sponsorships
If you would like to make a donation to the Memorial fund, the following link contains our pledge form - Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Statue Prospectus and Pledge Form.
 Direct Debit Donations
If you would like to make a small donation to the Memorial fund, you can also deposit directly by direct debit into the Committee's bank account -
Account Name: Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc
Account No: 204299-020 BSB No: 941300
Include your surname in the reference section.

Jim Claven
Secretary LGCC

Commonwealth War Graves Newseltter - East Mudros Cemetery Repairs and more

East Mudros Military Cemetery, Lemnos. Photograph Jim Claven 2013

The latest newsletter from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has been released.

This contains lots of interesting information and links. Of particular interest is the report regarding some repairs that are being carried our at Lemnos' East Mudros War Cemetery. The report states that a section of the wall adjacent to plot 3 has collapsed. Work to repair the wall began on 1 October and will run until 20 November. During this time, access to the area will be restricted and visitors planning to visit the cemetery are advised to contact the Mediterranean Area Office in advance at maoffice@cwgc.org.

There are also interesting stories regarding the commemoration of the service of Indian sub-continent units in the First World War, as well as a story about Dunsterforce, which saw service in the middle east and central asia - occupying Baku on the Caspian Sea. Australians served in this force.

CWGC Newsletter - November 2013