Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee’s 2021 Commemoration Event Cancelled - Statement from the President

This year’s annual Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial commemoration has been cancelled. Under normal circumstances this year’s event would have been held on Saturday, 14th August 2021 at the Memorial at Lemnos Square, Albert Park, however due to the uncertainty associated with the current pandemic we have held off scheduling it.

Unfortunately, this is now the second year since the unveiling of the Memorial in August 2015, that we have not held our annual service. We do so with a heavy heart but in recognition of the current COVID-19 restrictions it’s the responsible thing to do.

Now is the time for all of us to take care of each other by wearing a mask, following all the restrictions, getting tested if we have even the mildest of symptoms and getting vaccinated. This is the only pathway through this.

At the earliest opportunity that restrictions allow, representatives from our Committee will attend the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial and lay a floral tribute in honour and memory of the service of those Australian men and women who came to Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign, as well as those local Lemnians who assisted them. The medical staff - doctors, nurses and orderlies - on Lemnos in 1915-16 cared for thousands of wounded and sick soldiers in trying circumstances, under the heat of summer and the wind and rains of winter - like medical officer Stanley Argyle, Matron Grace Wilson, Staff Nurses Evelyn Hutt and Lucy Daw, dispenser and orderly Henry Gissing and hundred's more. This care saw the vast majority of those they cared for survive the ravages of war.

In holding our annual service, we honour the service of these medical staff. As such, this is an appropriate time to also think of all our health care workers who have been and are continuing to work so hard to keep us all safe as well as those who, while caring for those in our community, have contracted Covid-19. We all owe them a debt of respect and gratitude for doing their important work at this difficult time.

Our Committee will be working towards the return of our annual service on 13th August 2022 which we envisage will be bigger and better than ever.

We are hopeful that our annual Armistice of Mudros commemorative service at the Shrine of Remembrance will be able to proceed as scheduled on 31st October 2021. However, this will depend on what restrictions are in place at that time. We will advise further closer to this event.

In the meantime, our Committee continues to work to advance the commemoration of the Hellenic link to Australia's Anzac story. Current projects include the installation of our two new commemorative memorials on Lemnos that are part of our Lemnos Gallipoli Heritage Trail, the inauguration of our new commemorative service at the Shrine honouring those Australians who served in the Salonika campaign, the donation of George Petrou's impressive painting of Grace Wilson to one of Melbourne's major health facilities associated with Grace and our on-going Sister Schools program linking schools on Lemnos and in Australia.

Lee Tarlamis OAM MP
President, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

106th Anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine

Above: Lone Pine Cemetery, Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Today, the 6th August, marks the 106th anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine, the opening of the August Offensive. Below is the media release from the Minister for Veteran's Affairs.

The planning for and execution of this Offensive was one of the main reasons for the expansion of medical services on Lemnos, which included the arrival of Australia's (and Canada's) nurses on the Island. 

 

Many of the wounded from the Offensive would be brought to Lemnos for care and some would succumb and be buried in Lemnos' military cemeteries.

Lest we forget.

Jim Claven

Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

 MEDIA RELEASE

6 August 2021

ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF LONE PINE, GALLIPOLI 

 

Today marks the 106th anniversary of the start of the four-day Battle of Lone Pine, one of the deadliest battles of the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Andrew Gee said the Battle of Lone Pine demonstrated the courage, skills and determination of our Australian soldiers.

“The Battle of Lone Pine in 1915 came just months after the Australian landings on Gallipoli. In just a few days our forces suffered more than 2000 killed or wounded,” Minister Gee said.

“Part of a series of battles known as the August Offensive, Lone Pine was planned as a diversion to keep the Turkish reserve forces from supporting their lines where the main Allied attack was occurring.

“The objective was to take and hold the Turkish line, and draw the Turkish reserves away from the action occurring higher up on the heights of Chunuk Bair and Hill 971.

“At 4.30pm on 6 August 1915, the attack began. As the sun was setting, the Australians rose from their trenches and charged into no man’s land to attack the heavily fortified Turkish trenches.”

Within twenty minutes of the attack, Australian soldiers had seized the first of the Turkish trenches. Over the next three days a fierce and intense battle was fought with the Australian troops ultimately claiming victory in the battle. However, Australia’s losses were heavy.

“From the actions at Lone Pine, seven Australians received the Victoria Cross – the most ever awarded to Australians from one battle,” Minister Gee said.

“One of those awarded a Victoria Cross was John Patrick Hamilton who has a special connection to the Central West of New South Wales. Born in Orange, Hamilton was working as a butcher in Lithgow before enlisting into the Australian Imperial Force. Orange has not forgotten Hamilton. A statue of him stands on Anson Street.

“News of the battle and the extraordinary courage displayed there reached Australians on the home front. Lone Pine was to become synonymous with the ANZAC name and legend.

“The anniversary of Lone Pine is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the selfless service and courage of the Australians who served in the First World War and we must always remember them.”

For more information on the Battle of Lone Pine visit the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Anzac Portal.

 

Minister Gee office: 0459 966 944

DVA Media: 02 6289 6466