All Welcome - Shrine of Remembrance - Combined Armistice of Mudros Commemoration, Lemnos Tree Dedication and Plaque Unveiling

The Lemnos Tree Plaque to be dedicated and unveiled on 31st October this year. Photo Jim Claven 2019

Every year on the anniversary of the coming into effect of the Armistice of Mudros - at midday on the 31st October - the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee holds its annual commemorative service of remembrance of this important event at Melbourne's iconic Shrine of Remembrance. The Armistice ended the war across the Middle East, with the representatives of the defeated Ottoman Empire signing the armistice document abroad the HMS Agamemnon anchored in Mudros Bay the day before. For more information on the Armistice
Tree Dedication and Lemnos Plaque Unveiling
This years service will include a very special event of significance to our Committee, the Shrine and wider community - and especially those in Melbourne's Hellenic and service community with a connection to Lemnos.
We are proud that the Shrine Governor's have approved our proposal for the dedication of a tree in the Shrine grounds to Lemnos and its role in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915-16. The plaque has been funded by our Committee.
This is a very special occasion. Such dedications are very special. There is only one other such dedication to Greece and its role in Anzac - the tree dedicated to the battle of Crete in WW2. We are honoured to have been able to add the important role of Lemnos to this list.
As far as the Committee is aware, this is the first such dedication at any war memorial in Australia.
The tree and the plaque - honouring the role of Lemnos - will now be in the trust and care of the Shrine of Remembrance in perpetuity.

And it will join our Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial in Albert Park and our Hellenic Anzac commemorative plaque in the gardens of the Victorian Parliament (photos above) as a place of pilgrimage to Lemnos in Australia.

The Lemnos Tree, the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance Gardens. Photo Jim Claven 2019.

The tree chosen is located in the WW1 section of the Shrine gardens, situated amongst the other dedications to countries and units who served in WW1. These include a number of units, as well as those to New Zealand, Britain and India - many of came to Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign.
It is situated with a perfect vista of the Shrine itself and the flagpoles nearby (see picture above for the location). Across the road from the tree can be seen the Edith Cavell Memorial, dedicated by Australian nurses to the Edith Cavell and the role of all nurses in war. a very appropriate location for our tree.
The tree itself was chosen as it reflects the trees which can be seen to this day around the Castle ruins above the town of Myrina on Lemnos, an echo of the time that Australian and other Allied soldiers walked its streets and came to the Castle over 100 hundred years ago. One such example of those who took photographs from the Castle is below, taken by Bendigo Staff Nurse Mary McIlroy of the 3rd Australian General Hospital.

Photograph taken by Bendigo Staff Nurse Mary McIlroy of the view of Myrina from the Castle ruins above the town, Lemnos 1915-16. Courtesy Stephen Lee.

Event Details
The service will commence at 11.45am and conclude at 12 noon, with refreshments served in the Shrine. The tree will be dedicated and the new plaque unveiled during the service.
Due to the combined event, one wreath will be laid by the Committee in remembrance on behalf of all attendees.Copies of my new book - Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed - will also be available for sale in the Shrine of Remembrance bookshop following the service.
All welcome.

Jim Claven
Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee