New Video - Our Inaugural Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial commemorative service in August 2016

Enjoy this video of our inaugural commemorative service at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial held last year.
Thanks to Iakovos Garivaldis for all your support and for creating this video record for us and making it available through YouTube.
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial 2017 Commemorative Service - Update - Col (Ret) Jan McCarthy to give keynote address

Colonel (Ret) Jan McCarthy laying a wreath at last years Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial commemorative service.

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee is honoured that Colonel (Ret.) Jan McCarthy, President of the Returned Nurses RSL Sub-Branch, will deliver the keynote address at our forthcoming annual commemorative service on Saturday, 12th August 2017.
Colonel Jan McCarthy is a former Director of Army Nursing and current President of the Returned Nurses Sub-Branch of the RSL. She served in 1st Field Hospital in Vung Tau during 1968-1969 during the Vietnam War.
Colonel McCarthy has been a long supporter of our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial project, attending its unveiling and last years inaugural service.

Jan is pictured here among the other dignitaries at the unveiling of our Memorial in August 2015.

Our Annual Commemorative Service to the role of Lemnos in the Gallipoli campaign in 1915, and especially the important role of Australia's nurses on the Island, is held annual at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial at Foote Street Reserve, Albert Park.
It is held either on the 8th August or on the following Saturday every year. 8th August is the anniversary of the arrival of Australia's nurses on Lemnos in 1915.
Further details on this years service will be posted on this webblog.
Thanks to Committee Executive member Arlene Bennett of Melbourne's Nurses Memorial Centre for her assistance.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Commitee

New - Greek Campaign to feature in 2017 Anzac Biscuit Tin

It's official - The Battle of Greece and Crete in 1941 will be commemorated in this years Anzac Biscuit Tin.
The Modern Baking Company which produces the Anzac Biscuit Tins annual has agreed to pay tribute to this important campaign in the WW2 and one of the strong links in the Hellenic connection to Australia's Anzac tradition.
This is the result of effective lobbying by Tony Tsourdalakis on behalf of the Melbourne-based Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign Commemorative Council since early 2016.

The Tin's will bear one of the iconic images from the Australian War Memorial photographic archives of the campaign.
It depicts Australian soldiers enjoying a brief period of leave in Athens before they made there way up to northern Greece to face the coming German invasion, shoulder to shoulder with their Greek and other Allied comrades. The photo (AWM ref 006797) and depicts some diggers visiting the Acropolis.

The brave diggers who came to Greece and Crete in 1941 were following in the footsteps of their forebears who had come to Greece in the First World War - to Lemnos and Salonika -continuing the Anzac tradition in Greece. And many remain in Greek soil in the Commonwealth War Cemeteries across the country - from Lemnos, to Thessaloniki, from Leros and Rhodes, from Phaleron in Athens to Suda Bay in Crete.

Lest we forget.

The biscuits go on sale Nationally in April 2017.
Let’s make this a big seller in honour of the Anzacs of 1941!

A big thank you to Tony Tsourdalakis, Secretary of the BGCCC. Well done.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee
Member, Battle of Crete and the Greek Campaign Commemorative Council

Australia's Greek Day Memories 1 - Frankston & Hastings supports Greece and it's "heroic successes against the enemy"

Frankston beach, 1940

In late 1940, the Shire of Frankston and Hastings resolved to establish a patriotic appeal to support Greece in its fight against the Italian fascist invasion.
In supporting the motion at the President of the Shire, Councillor F.H. Wells is recorded as having said that the fund would be:
"Giving a lead to people who desire to give some material expression to their gratification to Greece for that country's heroic successes against the enemy."
The motion was passed unanimously.
The Standard newspaper recorded that the Councillors expressed the opinion that "a Greek victory might well be a turning point at the present war."
Councillor Oates stated that it was particularly appropriate that the people of Frankston support Greece in its hour of need given the fact that the Consul of Greece, Mr Ioannis Lekatsas (known as John Lucas) had been a resident and ratepayer of the Shire for many years.
Source: The Standard (Frankston), December 1940.

Ioannis Lekatsas - Restaurateur &Philanthropist
Ioannis Lekatsas had been born in Ithaca in 1862. emigrating to Australia in 1886, he established himself in Melbourne's cafe and restaurant scene - opening the Town Hall Cafe in Swanston Street in 1894 and going on to establish others such as the Vienna and Paris Cafes also in Melbourne. He was well-known and a prominent member of Melbourne's Greek community, active in the Orthodox Church community and serving as President of the Ulysses Philanthropic Society of Melbourne from 1916 until 1923. He was Greek Consul General to Australia in 1921 and subsequently Greek Consul in Melbourne from 1931 until his death in 1946.

Despite having to close, re-build and re-name (the Cafe Australia above) his unfortunately named "Vienna Cafe" after the attack on the Cafe by drunken soldiers in 1916, Ioannis went on to play a major role during WW2 in mobilizing the Greek community to raise funds in support of both Greece and Australia. He personally donated 10,000 pounds to the Greek and British child war victims funds. He resided at "Yamala" at Mount Eliza, a famous home in the area, where he engaged Walter Burley Griffin, the architect who designed the original Australian Parliament in Canberra, to re-design the house and garden. His home exists to this day, as a private residence and is treasured by the local heritage community. It is not open to the public.

Greek Day
Following the Italian invasion of Greece, major fundraising efforts were organized across Australia, supported by the Australian government, to assist Greek war victims. Special fundraising days were organized which became known as Greek Days. Special buttons and badges were produced - Greek Day badges - and flags combining the British and Greek flag. These were sold throughout Australia as fundraisers. This is the first of many posts commemorating Australia's Greek Days.

Lest we forget.

Jim Claven
Secretary  
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Hero - Second Lieutenant William Edwin Davis Update - Prahran RSL

Photo Jim Claven 2016

Recently we posted a story on the service of Prahran's Second Lieutenant William Edwin Davis.
Further research by myself at the Prahran RSL in High Street, Prahran, has revealed that William is honored on the famous Prahran RSL Honour Roll Board, featured above.
Below is a photograph of the panel containing William's name.
For further information on Second Lieutenant William Edwin Davis please click here.
Lest we forget.

Photo Jim Claven 2016

Photo Jim Claven 2016

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

George Devine Treloar Memorial - Update

Members of the George Devine Treloar Committee (Ms Penny Tsombanopoulos and Nick Krikelis pictured at left) visit the site of the George Devine Treloar Memorial with Kate Gerritsen (Public Art Co-Ordinator of the City of Ballarat) and Ms Alexandra Tascas, President of the Ballarat RSL. Photo Litsa Athanasiadis 2017

This week members of the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee met with representatives of the City of Ballarat and Ballarat RSL for an update on developments to erect the new memorial to honor the refugee work of Ballarat's George Devine Treloar.
The meeting confirmed the great progress being made to make the proposed new memorial a reality.
Updates were given on the success in fundraising to date and the successful launch event held in the Ballarat Town Hall late last year.
Discussion centered on the timelines for the delivery of the memorial, including the preparation of sculpture commissioning documentation.
The visit concluded with a visit to the planned memorial site in Sturt Street.

For more information on Major George Devine Treloar and the proposal to have erected a new memorial to honour his service, please click here.
Ballarat RSL Centenary
This year will see the Ballarat commemorate 100 years of service to the veteran community of Ballarat. A Centenary Dinner Celebration is planned for the evening of Saturday, 28th January.
The Committee met with the Ballarat RSL's Alexandra Tascas, a strong supporter of the George Devine Treloar Memorial project to discuss participation in the dinner.
Melbourne's Pontiaki Estia's dance group will perform and promotional material will be distributed on the George Devine Treloar Memorial.
If you are interested in attending this important function please contact the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee via email at - gdt.memorial@gmail.com.
Support the George Devine Treloar Memorial
If you would like to support the work of the Committee or make a donation to the Memorial fund please contact the Committee Secretary Penny Tsombanopoulos on mobile 0409 850 109 or via email on GDT.memorial@gmail.com
For further information, please contact Litsa Athanasiadis, Chair of the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee on 0421 804 968.

This update has been provided by Ms Litsa Athanasiadis of the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Anzac Graves Honoured in St Kilda Cemetery

The assembled pay their respects at the grave of Clarice and Ernest Lawrence, including Christina Chapman (first from left), Glenn Chapman (second from left), Hugh Dolan (third from left), Cr Dick Gross (fourth from left rear), the Hon Michael Danby (fifth from left front), Richard Hall (sixth from left), Lee Tarlamis (seventh from left), Jan Armstrong (eight from left), Mr John Salpigitis (ninth from left) and Historian Jim Claven (at right). Photo Jim Claven 2017

On Sunday 15th January 2017 members of Melbourne’s Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee joined with Anzac descendants, Federal MP Michael Danby and representatives of the City of Port Phillip at St Kilda Cemetery to honour the service of two famous Anzac’s who served on Lemnos in 1915.

The marriage of Clarice and Ernest at West Mudros, Lemnos in 1915. AWM

Nurse Clarice Daley and Sergeant Ernest Lawrence both served in the Gallipoli campaign, Clarice serving with the 3rd Australian General Hospital on Lemnos and Ernest with the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade at Gallipoli. They were famously married on the western shores of Lemnos’ great Mudros Bay. They are the only Anzac couple to have been married in the war zone during the campaign. Clarice and Ernest survived the war and returned to Melbourne’s Elwood, going on to raise a family together.

The grave of Clarice and Ernest Lawrence, St Kilda Cemetery. Photo Jim Claven 2017

The service took place at Clarice and Ernest’s grave site at St Kilda Cemetery.
Attendees included descendants of Clarice and Ernest - Christina Chapman, Glen Chapman and Richard Hall. Also present were the Hon Michael Danby, Federal MP for Melbourne Ports, Councillor Dick Gross from the City of Port Phillip, Ms Sandra Khazam from the City of Port Phillip and Anzac Historian Hugh Dolan, whose of 36 Days and Gallipoli Air War.

Mr John Salpigiditis of the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee with Ms Jan Armstrong, a relative of Ballarat’s George Devine Treloar. Photo Jim Claven 2017

Mr John Salpigitidis, representing the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee, as well as Ms Jan Armstrong, a relative of Ballarat’s George Devine Treloar also attended. Mr Salpigtidis laid a wreath composed of olive leaves and rosemary symbolsing both Greece and remembrance on behalf of the George Devine Treloar Memorial Committee.
In laying the Committee’s wreath at the grave, Committee President Mr Lee Tarlamis addressed the assembly, praising the role of Australia’s nurses - like Clarice - who diligently tended to the thousands of wounded and sick soldiers from the Gallipoli fronts in 1915. He said it was a particular honour for all of us to be joined today by members of the Daley-Lawrence family.
“It was also significant that today members of Melbourne’s Hellenic community are joined with the descendants of these two Anzac's to honour their service all those years ago on the Island of Lemnos,” Lee added.

Descendants of Clarice and Ernest Lawrence at their grave, from left, Christina Chapman, Glenn Chapman and Richard Hall. Photo Jim Claven 2017

Rev Richard Hall spoke on behalf of the Daley-Lawrence family, emphasizing the in the midst of war this young couple demonstrated the power of love to bring people together. Hugh Dolan commented on the important role that Lemnos played in the Gallipoli campaign and indeed up until the end of the First World war as a naval and air base for the Allies.
Secretary of the Committee, Mr Jim Claven, said that it was important that we recognized the service of Anzac’s like Clarice and Ernest. He said that they embodied the connection between Lemnos and Australia through the Anzac story and it was fitting that their resting place be acknowledged.
“Those Anzac's who served on Lemnos and returned to Australia carried the memory of their experience of Lemnos and its supportive Islanders back to Australia’s shores. These memories are captured in the hundreds of photographs of Lemnos and references to the Island in their letters, diaries and in memoirs. But this connection is also symbolized in graves such as Clarice and Ernest’s,” Jim stated.
Mr Claven believes that Clarice and Ernest’s grave is also significant in that it is one of very few to contain the remains of two Anzac's – a nurse and a digger.
The Committee has raised the prospect of greater recognition of Clarice and Ernest’s grave and intends to hold a regular service at the grave site.
A big thank you to both Neos Kosmos and Ta Nea for reporting our commemorations. To see the article in Neos Kosmos (in Greek), click here and here for the English version. To see the article in Ta Nea (in English), click here.

For more information on the service of Nurse Clarice Daley and Sergeant Ernest Lawrence, please follow the link by clicking here.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

2017 Annual Captain Albert Jacka VC MC and Bar Commemoration at St Kilda Cemetery

Last Sunday the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee participated in the annual Captain Albert Jacka VC MC and Bar commemorative service held at Melbourne's St Kilda Cemetery.
As usual the service was well attended, with probably over one hundred people attending. A number of members of our Committee attended, including myself, Lee Tarlamis our President, John Salpigitidis, George Petrou and Lambis Englezos.
Lee laid a wreath on behalf of our Committee as part of the service at Albert Jacka's grave site. This is the first time that our Committee has been invited to participate in this important commemorative event in the City of Port Phillip.
Captain Albert Jacka was the first Australian Victoria Cross awardee of the First World War, being awarded the honour for his service in the Gallipoli campaign. He also served on the Greek Island of Lemnos during the campaign. For more information on Albert and his connection to Lemnos, please click here.
Below (and above) are some photos of the event taken by myself.

 
Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

You're Invited - St Kilda Cemetery Anzac Walk

Keith Payne VC addresses last weekends commemorative service for Captain Albert Jacka VC MC and Bar at St Kilda Cemetery. Photo Jim Claven 2017

The Friends of St Kilda Cemetery have advised me that they hold an annual Anzac Day Walk at the St Kilda Cemetery. This Walk takes you to some of graves of the Anzac's buried in the Cemetery. These include Captain Albert Jacka, VC, MC and Bar as well as the combined grave of Clarice and Ernest Lawrence, who both served on Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign.
The Walk will commence at 2pm, Sunday 23 April at the Cemetery.
Cost $10; members free. Bookings: email info@foskc.org; tel: 9531 6832
All our tours leave from the main entrance to the cemetery in Dandenong Road. You are advised to wear suitable clothing and footwear as we go all weathers, rain, hail or shine.
A copy of the flyer for the Walk and booking details can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here.This would be a good event for all of those interested in Port Phillip's link to Anzac, including the Lemnos link.

The assembled pay their respects at the grave of Clarice and Ernest Lawrence, including Christina Chapman (first from left), Glenn Chapman (second from left), Hugh Dolan (third from left), Cr Dick Gross (fourth from left rear), the Hon Michael Danby (fifth from left front), Richard Hall (sixth from left), Lee Tarlamis (seventh from left), Jan Armstrong (eight from left), Mr John Salpigitis (ninth from left) and Historian Jim Claven (at right). Photo Jim Claven 2017

The Committee recently visited the grave of Clarice and Ernest Lawrence, laying wreaths and paying our respects along with members of the Lawrence family (see picture above).
The Committee is seeking better recognition of the grave by the Southern Metropolitan Cemetery Trust, the organization responsible for the St Kilda Cemetery. Watch this space.Friends of St Kilda Cemetery
The Friends of St Kilda Cemetery was incorporated as an association in 1999 with the aim: To promote the conservation and appreciation of the St Kilda Cemetery as a place of remembrance, of historic importance and of natural beauty.
St Kilda Cemetery was established in 1855. It was one of the principal burial places south of the Yarra River during the nineteenth century and its heritage values have been recognised by the Commonwealth and State Governments.
The cemetery contains many famous and notable Australians. Notable interments include:

• Alfred Deakin – politician and Prime Minister
• Alfred Felton – businessman, philanthropist and arts benefactor
• Matron Mary Finlay – World War 1 nurse in charge of army hospitals in Egypt and France
• Captain Albert Jacka – World War 1 Victoria Cross winner
• Christina MacPherson – provided the music for Banjo Patterson’s Waltzing Matilda
• Baron Sir Ferdinand von Mueller – botanist and director of Melbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens
• Fever victims from the 1840 emigrant ship the Glen Huntly

For more details on the Friends of St Kilda Cemetery click here
If you are interested in joining the Friends of St Kilda Library the annual membership is $15.
A copy of their current newsletter can be downloaded by clicking here.
Thanks to Elizabeth Hore, Vice-President, Friends of St Kilda Cemetery, for this information.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee