Upcoming Events for 2018 – Victorian Parliament's Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Display, Annual Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Service and Centenary of Armistice of Mudros Shrine Sanctuary Service

All Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee members and supporters are advised of our forthcoming major events for 2018.

Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Exhibtion sample image. Photo Jim Claven

Victorian Parliament to Host our Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Display
We have been successful in gaining the support of the Victorian Parliament and the Victorian Government for the display of our Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Display in Queens Hall.
The Photographic Exhibition will be on public display from 9am to 5pm, from Monday, 6th August 2018 to Friday, 10th August 2018.
Our display features 39 framed and titled iconic archival photographs of Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign taken by the Anzacs themselves in 1915-16. Our display has been taken to various venues and communities over recent years, from Greek community organizations, to Town Halls and Libraries. We are very pleased that it will know be displayed in the Victorian Parliament’s Queens Hall.
The Exhibition will be accompanied with a specially produced commemorative booklet.
All are welcome to attend. 

Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Exhibition. Photo Jim Claven

Annual Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial Service
As previously advised, this year’s service will commence at 11am on Saturday, 11th August 2018, at our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial in Lemnos Square, Albert Park.
The British Consul-General, Mr. Chris Holtby, has accepted our invitation to deliver the keynote address at this year’s service.
All members of the public are welcome to attend.

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial detail. Photo Jim Claven 2017

Centenary of Armistice of Mudros Service
This year is centenary of the signing of the Armistice of Mudros. This Armistice was negotiated between the Entente or Allied Powers and the Ottoman Empire aboard the British warship HMAS Agamemnon anchored in Lemnos’ Mudros Bay. The Armistice was signed on 30th October and came into effect at 12 noon the following day. This Armistice brought to an end the First World War across the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and the Salonika Front. For hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers – including Australians troops – the war was now over. Thousands of Allied POW’s were released. The war that for Australia began at Gallipoli, ended on Lemnos, in the great harbor that had been the base for the Gallipoli campaign. For more information on the Armistice, click here.

HMS Agamemnon

As far as we have been able to ascertain, the Armistice of Mudros has never been commemorated – either in Greece or in Australia. For many months our Committee has been in discussions with the authorities on Lemnos to hold a commemoration of the Armistice of Mudros on Lemnos. This will now be held on 3rd November 2018, coinciding with the visit of a Victorian delegation, including a special tour by former Victorian Premiers Anzac Student Prize Winners. This delegation will then proceed to the centenary services to be held in France. For details on the Victorian delegation, read more here.

Mudros Bay, Lemnos. Photo Jim Claven 2018

Earlier this year our Committee put a proposal to Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance to hold a wreath laying commemorative service in the Shrine Sanctuary marking the coming into effect of the Armistice and for this to be an annual service. The Shrine has now approved our proposal. The Armistice of Mudros commemorative service will be commencing in the Shrine Sanctuary at 11.45am on Wednesday, 31st October 2018. Those wishing to attend are advised to assemble at the Sanctuary from 11.30am. This event has been listed on the Shrine’s schedule of commemorations, see here.
More details of the service itself will be available closer to the event.
This service is open to the public and all members and supporters are welcomed to attend. 

Shrine Sanctuary. Photo Jim Claven

 Future annual services will be held at the same time and date consistent with the coming into effect of the Armistice in 1918.
Thank You
The Committee would like to thank all involved to date in helping put these events together. This includes the local authorities on Lemnos (and in particular the Sub-Prefect of the Northern Aegean Mr. Evagelos Giarmadouros and the Mayor of Lemnos Mr. Dimitirios Marinakis), the Parliament of Victoria, the Victorian Government, The Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet Veterans Branch and the Shrine of Remembrance.
Jim Claven, Secretary
Lee Tarlamis, President
Christina Despoteris, Vice President