Lemnos Centenary of Anzac - Commemorative Event 2 - Viewing of Anzac Girls and Canadian Reception at Portianou Cultural Centre

Following the unveiling of the new Nurses Memorial at Portianos Military Cemetery, the Canadian Ambassador hosted a reception at Portianou Cultural Centre on the evening of 18th April.
The reception included presentations, a viewing of one of the key episodes of the ABC's Anzac Girls (with Greek subtitles) and local food and wine - including Venizelos Cakes.
The reception was well attended, including by members of our Committee.

The reception was preceded by the unveiling of a new memorial to the tragic killing of a British Embassy official in Athens a few years ago - who had visited Portianos Military Cemetery prior to returning to Athens. The memorial was erected by the Lemnos authorities and attended by diplomatic and military representations, including from the United kingdom.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Centenary of Anzac - Commemorative Event 1 - Unveiling of New Nurses Memorial at Portianos

This years centenary commemorative events on Lemnos were the best ever held. Record numbers attended the events - including many from Australia and overseas - that spanned across four days, from the 18th to the 21st April. This post details the first of these events.

Unveiling of Lemnos' New Nurses Memorial - Portianos Military Cemetery

On the 18th April, members of our Committee had the privilege of attending the above event.

It has been a pleasure over recent years to have assisted his Excellency Mr Robert Peck, the Canadian Ambassador to Greece, in his journey to have this new memorial erected. Inspired by the need to further honour the service of the two Canadian nurses - Nurse Munro and Matron Jaggard - buried on Lemnos, as well as all the nurses who served on Lemnos in  1915, Robert, his team, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have created a fitting and timely addition to Lemnos' Anzac trail. 

I had the honour of being invited by the Canadian Ambassador to make a brief presentation on the role of the nurses on Lemnos. Our President Lee Tarlamis and Elisabeth Kaydos of Lemnos 1915 layed a wreath on behalf of both of our Australian committees. Many Australians made the effort to attend the event. 

Congratulations to the local Lemnos authorities and the Lemnos Friends of Anzac for assisting with the event. 

Congratulations to the Canadian Ambassador to Greece, his Excellency Robert Peck and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for their work in creating this new permanent memorial to the nurses of Lemnos. 

Below are some photographs from the event.

Jim Claven

Secretary

Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Greek National Newspapers covers the Nurses of Lemnos

Grave of Seaman George Bragg, Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

One of the major national newspapers in Greece has published a major article on the nurses who served on Lemnos.
The article is the result of the great work of his Excellency, Robert Peck, the Ambassador of Canada to Greece, to promote greater recognition of the role of Canadian nurses and soldiers in the Gallipoli campaign, and especially the service of the 2 Canadian
To download the article, click here.
Jim Claven
Secretary 
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lest we forget - St Kilda Digger Albert Alfred Bent

Ari Burnu Cemetery, Gallipoli. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

As I walked around the graves of the fallen Anzacs at the little Ari Burnu Cemetery near Anzac Cove I came across a digger connected to St Kilda in the City of Port Phillip, the City where our new Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial will be erected in August 2015.

Trooper Albert Bent. NAA

He was Trooper 223 Albert Alfred Bent, of the 8th Australian Light Horse. He served in A troop, B squadron, 3rd brigade.
Born in Albury NSW, he had attended Albury State School.
Enlisting at the age of 35 in Melbourne on 17th September 1914, he listed his profession as a labourer, working in the building trade.
His place of association is listed as St Kilda - his mother Preston C Bent lived at 57 Spencer Street in that suburb, and maybe that's where Albert lived before he enlisted.

Trooper Albert Bent Service Records. NAA

He sailed from Princes Pier, Melbourne, aboard the HMAT A16 Star of Victoria. It left Melbourne on the 25th February 1915. After arriving in Egypt, Albert sailed from Alexandria in Egypt on 16th May 1915, headed for Gallipoli.
Just over a month later - on 27th June 1915 - Albert was killed in action and was buried at the cemetery then called Gallipoli Point, now known as Ari Burnu.

Trooper Albert Bent Service Records. NAA

He received the British War Medal, 1914-15 Star and Victory Medal.

 Jim Claven at Albert Bent's grave, Ari Burnu Cemetery. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Lest we forget.

Jim Claven
Secretary 
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Invitation - Lemnos 1915 Exhibition and Presentation in Athens - 25th April

The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, with the support of the Australian Embassy in Athens, invite you to the exhibition and presentation entitled - "The Lemnos Connection to Anzac".
The event will be held at 8pm, on Anzac Day, 25th April 2015, at the auditorium of the War Museum of Athens.
The exhibition will feature our Committee's 40 iconic Lemnos Gallipoli photographs from the Lemnos archive, which was launched in Melbourne last month.
If you are in Athens on the 25th April you are encouraged to attend this major event.
To read and download the invitation for the event, click here.
There is also a poster for the event - to see the A4 version click here or for the A3 poster click here.

Thanks to Committee Executive Member, Christina Despoteris, for all her hard work in Greece organising this event - the first such presentation in Athens commemorating Anzac Day.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Canadian Government Announces New Memorial to Nurses on Lemnos - Media Release

The Canadian Government has formally announced its decision to have erected a new memorial to the nurses on Lemnos who served during the Gallipoli campaign, specifically acknowledging the services of Canadian Nurses Jaggard and Munro who died during the campaign and are buried on Lemnos.
The new Memorial will be unveiled on 17th April 2015 at Portianos Military Cemetary on Lemnos.
To read or download the media release click here.
The Committee congratulates Ambassador Robert Peck and his team for all their work on this new and welcome memorial to the Canadian and other nurses on Lemnos in 1915.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Anzac Commemorative Events on Lemnos - Official Program

The authorities on Lemnos have just released their program of events to commemorate the Centenary of Anzac.
You may view and download the program in English by clickng here or in Greek by clicking here.
Thanks to Christina Despoteris for obtaining this information.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee