Greek National Newspapers covers the Nurses of Lemnos

Grave of Seaman George Bragg, Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

One of the major national newspapers in Greece has published a major article on the nurses who served on Lemnos.
The article is the result of the great work of his Excellency, Robert Peck, the Ambassador of Canada to Greece, to promote greater recognition of the role of Canadian nurses and soldiers in the Gallipoli campaign, and especially the service of the 2 Canadian
To download the article, click here.
Jim Claven
Secretary 
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lest we forget - St Kilda Digger Albert Alfred Bent

Ari Burnu Cemetery, Gallipoli. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

As I walked around the graves of the fallen Anzacs at the little Ari Burnu Cemetery near Anzac Cove I came across a digger connected to St Kilda in the City of Port Phillip, the City where our new Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial will be erected in August 2015.

Trooper Albert Bent. NAA

He was Trooper 223 Albert Alfred Bent, of the 8th Australian Light Horse. He served in A troop, B squadron, 3rd brigade.
Born in Albury NSW, he had attended Albury State School.
Enlisting at the age of 35 in Melbourne on 17th September 1914, he listed his profession as a labourer, working in the building trade.
His place of association is listed as St Kilda - his mother Preston C Bent lived at 57 Spencer Street in that suburb, and maybe that's where Albert lived before he enlisted.

Trooper Albert Bent Service Records. NAA

He sailed from Princes Pier, Melbourne, aboard the HMAT A16 Star of Victoria. It left Melbourne on the 25th February 1915. After arriving in Egypt, Albert sailed from Alexandria in Egypt on 16th May 1915, headed for Gallipoli.
Just over a month later - on 27th June 1915 - Albert was killed in action and was buried at the cemetery then called Gallipoli Point, now known as Ari Burnu.

Trooper Albert Bent Service Records. NAA

He received the British War Medal, 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal.

 Jim Claven at Albert Bent's grave, Ari Burnu Cemetery. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Lest we forget.

Jim Claven
Secretary 
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Invitation - Lemnos 1915 Exhibition and Presentation in Athens - 25th April

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, with the support of the Australian Embassy in Athens, invite you to the exhibition and presentation entitled - "The Lemnos Connection to Anzac".
The event will be held at 8pm, on Anzac Day, 25th April 2015, at the auditorium of the War Museum of Athens.
The exhibition will feature our Committee's 40 iconic Lemnos Gallipoli photographs from the Lemnos archive, which was launched in Melbourne last month.
If you are in Athens on the 25th April you are encouraged to attend this major event.
To read and download the invitation for the event, click here.
There is also a poster for the event - to see the A4 version click here or for the A3 poster click here.

Thanks to Committee Executive Member, Christina Despoteris, for all her hard work in Greece organising this event - the first such presentation in Athens commemorating Anzac Day.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Canadian Government Announces New Memorial to Nurses on Lemnos - Media Release

The Canadian Government has formally announced its decision to have erected a new memorial to the nurses on Lemnos who served during the Gallipoli campaign, specifically acknowledging the services of Canadian Nurses Jaggard and Munro who died during the campaign and are buried on Lemnos.
The new Memorial will be unveiled on 17th April 2015 at Portianos Military Cemetary on Lemnos.
To read or download the media release click here.
The Committee congratulates Ambassador Robert Peck and his team for all their work on this new and welcome memorial to the Canadian and other nurses on Lemnos in 1915.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Anzac Commemorative Events on Lemnos - Official Program

The authorities on Lemnos have just released their program of events to commemorate the Centenary of Anzac.
You may view and download the program in English by clickng here or in Greek by clicking here.
Thanks to Christina Despoteris for obtaining this information.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee