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| Tank Landing Craft off Crete, today. Source: Michael Bendon's Forgotten Flottila website. |
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| Tank Landing Craft off Crete, 1941. Source: Michael Bendon's Forgotten Flottila website. |
Nick Andriotakis, Secretary of the Joint Committee for The Commemoration for
The Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign, has advised me of the following book launch in Sydney. If you are able to attend I urge you to book for this important event:
Dr Michael Bendon is a passionate archaeologist and researcher currently based in Sydney He has over the past 30 years worked on numerous excavations around the Mediterranean, including Greece.
While participating in the excavation of the Hellenistic harbour city of Phalasarna in western Crete in 2008, Michael took a lunchtime snorkelling break and literally stumbled upon what looked like a World War Two wreck. It sits in the entrance to the harbour of the ancient city in only a few metres of water.
When initial enquiries around the modern village of Phalasarna yielded no satisfying insights and questions to the British, Australian, New Zealand and German Military Authorities drew blanks, he became more intrigued by the strange vessel. Ever since then, he has spent unbelievable amounts of time, energy and resources to find out everything he possibly could about 'his' wreck.
Over the years, the story of the wreck became clearer and the research widened. The wreck itself turned out to be a Tank Landing Craft Mk1, which were prototype vessels developed by the British and carried Anzacs throughout the Battle of Crete and Greece.
Dr Bendon has travelled to England to meet the surviving Captain of the Flotilla , John Sutton . I have and continue to support Michael in his endeavours to bring forward the history and story of the flotilla .
I have just been advised that the Ambassador of Greece to Australia , Mr Dafaranos will be launching Dr Bendon’s book The Forgotten Flotilla: The Craft of Heroes, Greece, Crete and North Africa – 1941 and you are invited to attend . This event has been facilitated by the Joint Committee for The Commemoration for
The Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign , The Cretan association of NSW and The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens at Sydney University .
I urge everyone to attend but seats are limited so please RSVP by email or phone to the details below:
Thursday 27 November, 2014, 6 for 6:30pm
The Australian Archaeological Institute at Athens at Sydney University .
CCANESA Boardroom
Level 4 Madsen Building, University of Sydney
FREE (Refreshments will be served)
Parking available on campus: $6 flat rate (coin only)
Bookings Essential:
P: 9351 4759 E: arts.aaia@sydney.edu.au
For more information on Michael Bendon's work, click hereto download the launch brochure or here to link to his website.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee
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