The Stories of Five Victorian Anzacs in Greece at the State Library of Victoria

Over the past few years it has been my pleasure to have assisted a number of families in their donation of their Anzac memorabilia and private collections to the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. Each of these collections concern service in Greece in either the First World War or the Second World War.

These donations have together added immeasurably to the Anzac collections of the Library, one of Australia's premium archival institutions.

These collections concern the following Anzacs:

• Sister Evelyn Hutt who served on Lemnos and other fronts during the First World War (February 2016);
• Private Syd Grant, who served in Greece, the Middle East and other fronts in the Second World War, including his escape from Southern Greece (November 2016);
  
• Lieutenant Henry Moran, who served in Greece in the Second World War, including Vevi (November 2016);  
• Private Gwilym "Gill" Easton, who served in the Middle East during the Second World War, including Tobruk and El Alamein (August 2018);
• Sergeant Alfred Frank Huggins, who served in Greece, the Middle East and other fronts in the Second World War (November 2016).

To assist in establishing the importance of each collection, I prepared a short document for each, outlining the contents of the collection, a biography of the Anzac concerned, their wartime experience and how this is reflected in the collection. Most importantly I reviewed and reproduced many if not all of the photographic elements of each collection within the documents. 

A copy of each of these was deposited with the Library. The front cover of Sister Hutt's booklet is reproduced above, the others below. These have now been catalogued and are available to be accessed.

You can order to see a copy of the overviews by using the following link: 

Jim Claven Hellenic Anzac Overview Publications

You can also read more about:

• Sister Evelyn Hutt in my article in the La Trobe Journal, click here.
• Private Syd Grant and Sergeant Alfred Huggins in my article in the La Trobe Journal, click here.
• Lieutenant Henry Moran in my article in Neos Kosmos on the Vevi Battle, click here. 
• Private Gwilym "Gil" Easton in my obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald, click here. 

Enjoy. 

Jim Claven, Secretary, Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee 

 

Hellenic Presidential Guard to attend Anzac Service at Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial - All Invited

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee will be holding our first official "Anzac Day Service" at the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial in Lemnos Square and the Evzones - the Hellenic Presidential Guard - will honor us with their presence.

 

The Service will take place on:

 

Thursday 21 April 2022

11.00 am

Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial

Lemnos Square

Foote Street Albert Park

 

We are grateful and honored that our first official Anzac Day Service will include the participation of the Evzones, the Hellenic Presidential Guard.

 

This bronze Memorial, of a nurse protecting a weary soldier, was sculpted by renowned artist Peter Corlett OAM. It recognizes the important role of the Greek island of Lemnos in Australia's ANZAC story and is dedicated to the Australian nurses and soldiers who served there during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915; to the 148 Australian soldiers who remain buried there; and to the local community who supported them.

 

Our 2022 Anzac Day Service at Lemnos Square will include an address, a wreath-laying ceremony, the national anthems of Greece and Australia, the reciting of the Ode, and of course the guarding of the Memorial by the Evzones. Their presence further enhances our connection between Australia and Greece and will highlight the role that Lemnos played in the Gallipoli Campaign.

 

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee thanks the Victorian Government for making this visit to Melbourne by the Evzones - the Hellenic Presidential Guard possible and the Greek National Day Council for including this visit to our Memorial.

 

We would be delighted if you could join us for this important event.

 

Note that there will be a limited number of wreaths being laid during the service by Official Guests.

 

Lee Tarlamis OAM MP

President

Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee