Victorian Government announces support for new commemorative initiatives on Lemnos

Lee Tarlamis, President of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee (at left) and Jim Claven, Secretary of the Committee (at right) congratulating the Hon Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria, on his announcement.

The Premier of Victoria, the Hon Daniel Andrews MP, has announced a suite of new initiatives to enhance the commemoration of Lemnos’ link to Australia’s Gallipoli story. The initiatives total nearly $180,000 in funding.This announcement was made during his recent visit to Greece.
The initiatives include a special delegation of Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize alumni who will travel to Lemnos – and to the Western Front - in 2018. The special tour to mark the anniversary will see 10 participants from the first 10 years of the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Program travel to Greece to witness the commemoration of the centenary of the signing of the Armistice of Mudros on the 30th October 1918, ending hostilities in the region 100 years ago. The Andrews Labor Government will provide $150,000 towards the tour. 

The Victorian Premiers Anzac Student Prize awardees on Lemnos

The Government will also provide $5,000 to Mudros High School in Lemnos to further strengthen the ties between Victorian and Lemnos school students developed over previous Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize Tours. 

Lemnos students take part in the annual Anzac commemorative services on the Island. Photo Jim Claven 2014

The Government will also contribute $2,000 to Melbourne’s Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee to support its work in formally recognising the significance of the ‘Australian Pier’ on the shores of Mudros Bay in Lemnos. This grant will support our efforts for a permanent memorial marker on Lemnos restoring the name of this pier built by Australian soldiers in March 1915 – and still in use today.
And finally, the Government will also provide an additional $20,000 in support to the forthcoming Lemnos Gallipoli commemorative publication under production by the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee. This is in addition to an initial Victorian Government grant of $10,000 in support of the publication. As has been reported previously in Neos Kosmos, this publication will feature the reproduction of hundreds of original photographs of Lemnos taken by the Anzacs in 1915. It will tell the stories of the 148 diggers buried in Lemnos’ two commonwealth war cemeteries and the Australian nurses who served there – many of them from Victoria. 

East Mudros Military Cemetery. Photo Jim Claven

Premier Daniel Andrews said that he was proud to pay homage to Lemnos’ special place in Australia’s wartime story. He went to explain that these initiatives would further ensure awareness and links amongst young Australians and their counterparts on Lemnos.
“The special delegation to mark 100 years since the Mudros Armistice and the end of the war in November 1918 is a wonderful opportunity for our best and brightest Spirit of Anzac Prize alumni to return to Greece and reflect on the Australians who gave their lives at war. It’s so important for our kids to learn about this time in our history and the sacrifices our veterans made – by supporting schools and organisations connected to Lemnos we’re ensuring they can,” the Premier said.
Mr. Lee Tarlamis, President of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, welcomed these announcements.
“These initiatives will enhance the various efforts made over recent years by our Committee, the Victorian Government and the authorities on Lemnos to build awareness of Lemnos’ link to Anzac. We are thrilled with the Government’s decision.”

Mr. Tarlamis was particularly keen to commence work on the erection of the new memorial commemorating the Australian Pier at Mudros on Lemnos.

“It was only recently that our Secretary and Historian, Mr. Jim Claven, was able to reveal the story of the Australian Pier. Built by Australian soldiers in March 1915 as they assisted in the landing of Australian medical services onto Lemnos, the pier was known locally and to the Allied forces as the ‘Australian Pier’ as indicated by Allied maps. It remains in use to this day and the restoration of this name will be another physical reminder of Lemnos’ link to Anzac. We hope that it will be included in the annual commemorative services conducted on Lemnos.”

HMS Agamemnon - on which the Armistice of Mudros was signed at Lemnos on October 1918.

He added that the Government’s additional support for the forthcoming Lemnos and Gallipoli commemorative publication will enable further copies of the publication to be produced and its release will support the commemoration of the Armistice of Mudros in 2018. He also welcomed the initiatives to enhance connections between the young people of Lemnos and Victoria.

This post is an edited version of the recent news article printed in Neos Kosmos. To read and download the full media report, please click here.



Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee
 

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - From the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

On behalf of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, our members and supporters – we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
It has again been a pleasure to work with our supporters in both Australia and in Greece and indeed across the world.
This time of the year is an opportunity to reflect on our achievements throughout the year and thank everyone for their hard work.
Some of the highlights from this year include the official naming of the location of our Memorial in Albert Park as Lemnos Square, the unveiling of a new memorial to the Anzac link to Greece (including Lemnos) in the Gardens at the Parliament of Victoria and another great attendance at our annual Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Commemorative Service, with the participation of Col (Ret) Jan McCarthy of the RSL Nurses Sub-branch as keynote speaker.
We also recently welcomed the announcements to recognise Lemnos and our work by the Victorian Government during the Premier of Victoria's recent visit to Greece. These announcements build on what we have already achieved to raise awareness about the significant links between Lemnos and the Anzac story which will be forever remembered through initiatives like the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial. This Memorial and our other projects will be complimented by our book which is being written by our Secretary Jim Claven - Historian which also received additional funding as part of the recent announcements. As will the formal recognition of the Australian Pier on Lemnos and the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of Mudros events both in Victoria and on Lemnos and which will be part of the special tour by the Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize Alumni.
These are only a few of the events scheduled for 2018 and will add to the Photographic Exhibition in Queens Hall at the Parliament of Victoria in August and our annual Commemorative event in Lemnos Square at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial and we welcome the ongoing support by the Victorian Government.
We will be soon by releasing our full program of events for 2018.
Again, on behalf of the Committee, I wish all of our members, supporters and friends - in Australia, Greece and across the world - a safe and very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
We look forward to working with you all again next year.
Lee Tarlamis, President
Jim Claven, Secretary

You are invited - End of Gallipoli Campaign Commemorative Service, Shrine Sanctuary, 12 noon, Wednesday, 20th December 2018

End of Gallipoli campaign service at the Shrine Sanctuary, 2017. Photo Jim Claven

Members and supporters of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee are invited to attend tomorrow's commemorative service in honour of the end of the Gallipoli campaign in December 1915. The event will be held at the Shrine Sanctuary, commencing at 12noon.The guns fell silent and peace arrived in the ANZAC Sector at Gallipoli in the early hours of 20th of December 1915. This signalled the end of hostilities between the foes which began on 25 April 1915 which caused many thousands of both sides sacrifice their lives. The 102nd anniversary of this important event is to be commemorated at the Shrine of Remembrance with a wreath laying ceremony at the Sanctuary.
The ceremony will be preceded by the presentation of the Friends of Gallipoli Award at the Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial at 11 a.m. The Memorial is located 200 m. north east of the Shrine. After the presentation, the participants will move to the Sanctuary of the Shrine for the commemorative ceremony.
Friends Friends of Gallipoli Inc. jointly with the RSL- Victorian Branch co-ordinated this commemorative ceremony at the Shrine of the Remembrance. This year’s ceremony will be 6th such event in Melbourne.
Former Prime Minister the Hon. Julia Gillard AC and Dr Robert Webster OAM, State President of Returned and Services League [RSL] Victorian Branch will be the guests of honour at a commemorative ceremony to mark the end of the war at Gallipoli between the ANZACs and the Turks.

Service at the Australian Turkish Friendship Memorial, 2017. Photo Jim Claven 2017

Our Committee has been invited and taken part in this event for a number of years. Our Committee Vice President, Ms Christina Despoteris, will lay the wreath on behalf of our Committee.
To a read a report on a previous service, click here.
All welcome.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

St Kilda Cemetery Commemorative Event - 2pm 14th January 2018 - Albert Jacka VC - Clarice Daley & Ernest Lawrence

Albert Jacka Memorial Service 2017. Photo Jim Claven 2017

Well 2017 is not even over and we announce our first event for 2018!
The 86th Annual Albert Jacka Memorial Service will be held at St Kilda Cemetery, Dandenong Road, St Kilda, at 2pm on Sunday, 14th January 2018.
Captain Albert Jacka, VC, the first Australian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, served at Gallipoli and on Lemnos in 1915. For more information on Albert Jacka and his connection to Lemnos, click here.
There will be a memorial service, including a wreath laying service at which our President, Lee Tarlamis, will lay a wreath on behalf of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee.
This will be followed by an afternoon tea and presentation at St Kilda Town Hall, corner Brighton Road and Carlisle Streets, St Kilda, at 3-4.30pm. Use the Portico Entrance.

Clarice Daley-Ernest Lawrence Memorial Service 2017. Photo Jim Claven 2017

At the conclusion of the Albert Jacka memorial service, members and supporters of our Committee are invited to join us at the grave of Nurse Clarice Daley and Sergeant Ernest Lawrence - who both served on Lemnos and were the only Australians to be married there during the Gallipoli campaign - and who are also buried in the St Kilda Cemetery.
We will lay a wreath and welcome all others who wish to do so.
All welcome.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Committee End of Year Celebration - A message from the President, Lee Tarlamis

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Xmas Party at Oakleigh's Yefsi. Photo Jim Claven 2017

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Executive came together last night for an enjoyable end of year dinner at Yefsi Cafe in Oakleigh.
It was a great opportunity to come together and reflect on all our achievement throughout the year and thank everyone for their hard work.
Some of the highlights from last year included the re-naming of the location of our Memorial in Albert Park as Lemnos Square, the unveiling of a new memorial to the Anzac link to Greece (including Lemnos) at the Victorian Parliament House and another great attendance again at our annual Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial commemoration, with the participation of Col (Ret) Jan McCarthy of the RSL Nurses Sub-branch as keynote speaker.
I took the opportunity to welcome the recent announcements to recognise Lemnos and our work by the Victorian Government during the Premier of Victoria's recent visit to Greece.
These announcements build on what we have already achieved to raise awareness about the significant links between Lemnos and the Anzac story which will be forever remembered through initiatives like the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial in the recently named Lemnos Square in Albert Park. This Memorial and our other projects will be complimented by our book which is being written by our Secretary Jim Claven - Historian which also received funding as part of the recent announcements.
As will the formal recognition of the Australian Pier on Lemnos and the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Armistice of Mudros events both in Victoria and on Lemnos and which will be part of the special tour by the Premier's Spirit of Anzac Prize Alumni.
These are only a few of the events scheduled for 2018 and will add to the Photographic Exhibition in Queens Hall at Parliament of Victoria and our annual Commemorative event in Lemnos Square at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial and we welcome the ongoing support by the Victorian Government.
We will be soon by releasing our full program of events for 2018.
On behalf of the Committee, I wish all of our supporters and friends - in Australia, Greece and across the world - a safe and very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Lee Tarlamis
President, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos and WW2 - A story of Occupation and Liberation

German troops marching through the capital of Lemnos, Myrina, 1941. Web

October is an important month in Hellenic military history. It is the month that many Islands were liberated and joined to Greece in the Balkan War of 1912-13. And it is the months of Oxi Day in 1940. However October is also the month in 1944 when the Greek Resistance, Hellenic Army and other Allied forces combined to expel the Axis (and overwhelmingly German) forces that had occupied Greece since May 1941.
To illustrate this liberation, I have written two stories on the experience of one Island - the Island of Lemnos.

HMS Argonaut. web

For so it was on Lemnos in October 1944 that a combined Allied, Hellenic and Resistance force confronted the Germans who had occupied the Island for four years and liberated the Island. The liberation would include the British Royal Navy warship, HMS Argonaut.
To read and download the story of Lemnos' occupation, click here.
To read and download the story of Lemnos' liberation, click here.
Alternatively, you can read the on-line versions at the Neos Kosmos website:
Lemnos' occupation - click here.
Lemnos' liberation - click here. 

Greek Sacred Squadron and Liberation memorial, Myrina, Lemnos. Photo Jim Claven 2015

I have been generously assisted in producing these articles by those who witnessed it and their families. I acknowledge the work of Lemnos historian Aristides Tsotroudis on Lemnos’ occupation and liberation. I am indebted to Angelo Kalomiris and Chris Mingos from Kontias, Nikolaos and his daughters Liza and Haroula Koutsaplis from Tsimandria, as well as Dimitris Boulotis, for sharing their memories with me.
Anyone with more stories of the occupation and liberation of Lemnos should contact Jim Claven via email – jimclaven@yahoo.com.au

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Anders Lassen - The Achilles of Thessaloniki - Honoured in Melbourne

Overhead Still by Jim Claven 2017

Last night members of the Committee took part in a unique commemorative event at Melbourne's Danish Consulate. This was to honour the service of the famous Danish soldier Major Anders Lassen VC, MC and 2 Bars and his role in the liberation of Greece and especially Thessaloniki in WW2.

Mr Iakovos Garivaldis, Mr Ross Alatsas, Mr Bill Papastergiadis, His Excellency Mr Tom Nørring,Danish Ambassador to Australia, his wife Claudia, Lucinda Ravnholt and Danish Honorary Consul General Mr Jan Ravnholt. Photo Jim Claven 2017

This was the first time that Hellenes and Danes had come together in Melbourne - and possibly in the world - to commemorative the service of Anders Lassen.

Danish Honorary Consul General Jan Ravnholt welcomed everyone to the Danish Consulate and we all enjoyed a combination of Danish and Greek hospitality, including traditional music from the Melbourniotes band.

The crowd welcome by Greek and Danish hospitality – including the sound of traditional Greek music by the Melbourniotes band. Photo Jim Claven 2017

Photo Kostas Deves 2017

Photo SBS 2017

Photo SBS 2017

Photo Kostas Deves 2017

Photo Kostas Deves 2017

Photo Jim Claven 2017

Members of Melbourne’s Pan Korinthian and Pan Argoliki associations congratulate Paul Mavroudis and Mr Tony Tosourdalakis on the presentation. Photo Jenny Krasopoulaki 2017

Over 100 guests attended, including the Danish Ambassador to Australia - Mr Tom Norring and his wife Claudia, Ms Maria Gidarakos representing the Hellenic Consul in Melbourne, Mr Bill Papastergiadis President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria and Mr Ross Alatsas, Deputy Chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, representatives of various service and community organizations as well as many from Melbourne's Danish and Hellenic communities. 

Photo Jim Claven 2017

Also in attendance were Ms Judith Gunnarson and Ms Deb Stewart, descendants of Lemnos Nursing Sister Evelyn Hutt. Ms Gunnarson also spent a major part of our life living in Scandinavia. Other members of our Committee who were able to attend were our President Lee Tarlamis, Mr Ange Kenos (who is also President of the Essendon RSL) and Mr John Salpigitidis.

His Excellency Danish Ambassador to Australia Mr Tom Nørring and Danish Honorary Consul General Mr Jan Ravnholt with Ms Judith Gunnarson and Deb Stewart, descendants of Anzac Nursing Sister Evelyn Hutt. Photo Jim Claven 2017

It was an honour to make my historical presentation on the service of Anders to such a distinquished crowd. 

Mr Paul Mavroudis (left) and Mr Tony Tsourdalakis (right) make their presentation of the Anders Lassen Memorial plaque to His Excellency Danish Ambassador to Australia Tom Nørring. Photo Andrew Higgins 2017.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Anders Lassen Memorial Plaque by Melbourne's Thessaloniki Association and the Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council, which was accepted by the Danish Ambassador and Consul.

Mr Paul Mavroudis (left) and Mr Tony Tsourdalakis (right) make their presentation of the Anders Lassen Memorial plaque to His Excellency Danish Ambassador to Australia Tom Nørring. Photo Andrew Higgins 2017.

The Plaque will be displayed in the Danish Consulate in Melbourne at Denmark House.

Anders Lassen Memorial Plaque

Mr Lee Tarlamis, President of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee (third from left) and Mr Tony Tsourdalakis, Secretary of the Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council (at right), make a presentation to Danish Honorary Consul General in Melbourne Mr Ravnholt and His Excellency the Danish Ambassador to Australia Mr Nørring, with Mr Paul Mavroudis at left. Photo Kostas Deves 2017

Mr Lee Tarlamis, President of our Committee took the opportunity to present the Danish Ambassador to Australian His Excellency Mr Tom Norring with our Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Statue Unveiling booklet and one of Commemorative badges, in conjunction with a book presentation by Mr Tony Tsourdalakis on behalf of the Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council.
Great to work with our Danish Honorary Consul General in Melbourne, Mr Jan Ravnholt, Mr Paul Mavroudis and Iakovos Garivaldis of Melbourne's Thessaloniki Association 'The White Tower' and Mr Antonis Tsourdalakis of the Melbourne Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council in putting on this event. Congratulations to all involved. 

Various attendees, including Mrs Maria Gidarakos, representing the Greek Consul-General in Melbourne (fourth from left) join with Danish Honorary Consul General Mr Jan Ranvolt and His Excellency Danish Ambassador to Australia Tom Nørring and their partners in celebrating the gifting of the Anders Lassen Memorial plaque. Photo Kostas Deves 2017.

Hopefully this will be part of an annual collaboration between Melbourne's Danish and Hellenic communities.

The event is part of both the annual Melbourne-Thessaloniki Sister-City celebrations as well as the annual program of the Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Committee.

To read more about Anders Lassen, click here.

Photo SBS 2017

Jim Claven
Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee
Member, Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council