Shrine of Remembrance - Combined Armistice of Mudros Commemoration, Lemnos Tree Dedication and Plaque Unveiling - 31st October 2019

Those who attended the Lemnos Tree Dedication and Plaque Unveiling ceremony. Photo Jim Claven 2019

October 2019 saw a dedicated crowd gathered on a beautiful summer’s day at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance gardens to witness the formal dedication of a tree and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque honouring the role of Lemnos in the Gallipoli campaign. An initiative of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, this tree dedication and plaque unveiling formally recognizes the role of Lemnos in Melbourne’s pre-eminent commemorative space.

The service took place as part of this year’s Armistice of Mudros commemorative service at the Shrine. This recognizes the Armistice for its bringing the First World War across the Western Mediterranean and the Middle East to an end, releasing thousands of Allied prisoners who would begin the long journey home as the Armistice took effect on 31st October 1918.

It was my honor to address the assembly, drawing their attention to the significance of the day in the history of the Hellenic link to Anzac. Not only did Lemnos play this important role in the ending of the war but the same Mudros Bay where the Armistice was concluded aboard the British warship HMS Agamemnon, was also the place where the Anzacs had assembled before the landings at Gallipoli more than three years earlier.

Lemnos and the shores of the bay had played host to the tens of thousands of Australian and other Allied troops that came to Lemnos throughout the campaign – whether that was to train, be treated in its many field hospitals or to rest and recuperate. 130 Australian nurses served in two of the three Australian field hospitals on the Island throughout the campaign providing essential medical care to the wounded and sick. And 148 Australians were buried across East Mudros and Portianos Military Cemeteries, amongst the other 1,300 Allied dead buried there. But these Australians also enjoyed the hospitality of the island, visiting its villages and churches, eating its food and drinking its beverages, bathing in the Islands mineral springs baths and otherwise enjoying this beautiful island in the northern Aegean.

For all these reasons it is appropriate that Lemnos is now recognized in the grounds of the Shrine. In my address I pointed out that we could not have found a better location, situated as the tree is in the First World War section of the gardens, with nearby plaques commemorating many of the units that served on Lemnos, with the great Shrine building nearby. On behalf of the Committee I thanked the Shrine Trustees for their support for this initiative.

The Consul of the Hellenic Republic Mr Dimitrios Michalopoulos (third from left) and Shrine Life Governor Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Lombardo (right), with the Shrine Guard and Guard Commander Bob Roberts (second from right). Photo Jim Claven 2019

The event was attended by many dignitaries, including Mr Dimitrios Michalopoulos, the Consul of the Hellenic Republic, The Hon Ted Baillieu former Premier of Victoria and chair of Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee and Shrine Life Governor Lieutenant Colonel Adrian Lombardo. The Presidents of the Nurses RSL Sub-Branch Col (Ret) Jan McCarthy ARRC, the Hellenic RSL Sub-Branch Mr Steve Kyritsis OAM and the Essendon RSL Mr Ange Kenos were all in attendance. Mr Antonis Tsourdalakis, Chair of the Battle of Crete and Greece Commemorative Council and Ms Arlene Bennett, President of the Nurses Memorial Centre as well as representatives of Victoria’s Lemnian and Krythian communities were also present.

The Committee was particularly pleased to see the attendance of descendants of those who served on Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign, joining the Committee’s Executive Member Deb Stewart, the grand-daughter of Staff Nurse Evelyn Hutt of the 3rd Australian General Hospital.

The Lemnos Tree and plaque, as the Shrine Guard stand post for the singing of the Australian national anthem. Mr Ange Kenos, President of the Essendon RSL is flagbearer. Photo Jim Claven 2019

The service itself was a moving one, with Australian Army Cadet Chaplain Darren Thomas performing the dedication ceremony and prayer reading, followed by Colonel (Ret) Jan McCarthy’s reading of the Ode and the singing of the Australian National Anthem by Mr Simon Gibson from the Victoria Police Band. The service was accompanied by the music of Ms Stacey Harris, the bagpiper for the day, along with the Victoria Police band. The Shrine Guard also stood post as part of the dedication ceremony. The whole conduct of the event underscored the significance of the occasion. The Committee’s Vice President Christina Despoteris conducted the event as Master of Ceremonies.

Committee Vice-President Ms Christina Despoteris addresses the assembly as master of ceremonies. Photo Jim Claven 2019

As part of the service Committee President Mr Lee Tarlamis OAM was joined by co-patron Colonel (Ret) Jan McCarthy ARRC in unveiling the plaque, with Lee laying a wreath on behalf of the Committee, with others invited to lay a poppy at the end of the service.

Committee Vice-President Ms Christina Despoteris addresses the assembly as master of ceremonies. Photo Jim Claven 2019

During the ceremony the assembly welcomed the important announcement by Master of Ceremonies Christina Despoteris of the news that Lemnos’ authorities have invited the Victorian Chief Commissioners of Police Mr Grahan Ashton and the Shrine Guard to attend the annual commemorative services to be held on the Island on 20-21st April next year. This will be the first time that Melbourne’s Shrine Guard will take part in commemorative services in Greece. Their presence will include a special commemoration of those Victoria Police members who served on Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign.
The Committee has been working with the Shrine Guard and the local authorities on Lemnos to bring this proposal to a reality. Committee President Mr Lee Tarlamis OAM said that this be a very special occasion, as the Shrine Guard, dressed in their First World War uniforms, will walk on Lemnos following in the footsteps of the Anzacs. “It will be a spectacular site to see them take part in the commemorative services on Lemnos,” he said. He also paid tribute to the work of Committee Vice President in promoting this visit to Lemnos.

Anzac commemorative services on Lemnos in 2018. Photo Jim Claven 2018

Next year’s commemorative service is building up to be a major event, with the planned local launch of my book Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed as well as the participation of many dignitaries from Australia, including Mr Stephen Cook, Principal of Albert Park College, and many members of Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee.
Plans are also underway to install a new commemorative plaque on Lemnos, honouring the service of the only Australian soldier in the First World War to come from Lemnos, Sapper Basil Passa from the village of Kontopoulou. This will join the Committees unveiling of the Australian Pier memorial on Lemnos last year, as another step in our creation of the Lemnos Gallipoli Heritage Trail on Lemnos.

The Hon Ted Baillieu, former Premier of Victoria, and Chairman of the Victorian Anzac Centenary Committee, addresses the crowd at the Shrine. Photo Jim Claven 2019

Both the Consul General of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Dimitrios Michalopoulos, and the former Premier of Victoria, the Hon Ted Baillieu addressed the crowd, praising the work of Mr Lee Tarlamis, Ms Christina Despoteris and myself, along with the rest of the Committee, in raising awareness of the role of Lemnos in Gallipoli. Mr Michalopoulos noted the many achievements of the Committee, in Australia and in Greece, in such a short period of time. Mr Baillieu praised the book Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed in its ability to identify some of the many threads that connect Lemnos to Australia through the lives and experiences of the young Australians who served there.
Committee President Mr Tarlamis OAM thanked all for coming on this important day for Lemnos and the recognition of its part in the Gallipoli campaign and the Armistice of Mudros. “This is another important step in our work to increase awareness of the Hellenic link to Australia’s Anzac story,” Lee said. The ceremony concluded with Lee’s invitation to all to come to Lemnos in 2020.

Lemnos Tree and Plaque, Shrine of Remembrance gardens, Melbourne. Photo Deb Stewart 2019

The published version of this story can be read by clicking here.

Jim Claven, Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee