Lemnis Centenery of Anzac - Commemorative Event 8 - Mudros Harbour Wreath-laying and Folkloric Event

The final wreath-laying event took place as Mudros Harbour's Anzac memorial on the 20th April.

Yet again the sailors and ships company of HMAS Success made their presence felt. Along with diplomatic and military representatives, our President Lee Tarlamis layed a wreath on behalf of our Committee. Others to lay wreaths as part of the service included Malama Varvaras on behalf of the Lemnian Community of Victoria, Christina Despoteris on behalf of the Pan Lemnian Federation of Australia and Nick Kambouris on behalf of the RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch.

Following the wreath laying ceremony, we were all treated to traditional dancing by Lemnians wearing traditional outfits.

Thanks to the Lemnos authorities, Lemnos Friends of Anzac and the local Lemnian community for organising this great display of local culture.

Jim Claven

Secretary

Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Centenary of Anzac - Commemorative Event 7 - HMAS Success enters Mudros Bay

HMAS Success, the first Australian warship to visit Mudros since the HMAS Brisbane in 1918, accompanied by two ships of the Hellenic Navy, entering Mudros Bay around 12 noon, Monday 20th April 2015. A key part of Lemnos' Anzac Centenary commemorations. Lest we forget Seamen Chitts and Godier and Philip Le Seuer of the Royal Australian Bridging Train, all buried at East Mudros Military Cemetery.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Centenary of Anzac - Commemorative Event 6 - Re-enactment of Historic Anzac Football Match

After much lobbying over the years by our Committee, we witnessed the re-enactment of the famous Anzac football (soccer) match that took place on Lemnos during the Gallipoli campaign.
The sailors of HMAS Success and a team from the Hellenic Army took the role of the 3rd Australian General Hospital and Royal Navy 100 years ago.
The event took place at the great football field at Kontias - a village we know that was visited by the Anzacs in 1915.
It was great to join with the locals to watch this match and I'm sure it will not be the last time an event like this occurs.
Many members of our Committee attended the event - including former South Melbourne Hellas board members and supporters, like Bill Georgandis. 
Thanks to the sailors of the HMAS Success and the soldiers of the Hellenic Army for making this unique Lemnos Anzac centenary event happen.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Centenary of Anzac - Commemorative Event 5 - Portianou Wreath Laying, Presentation and Gift of Photographic Exhibition

On 20th April, following the wreath laying service at Portianou Military Cemetery, the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee and Lemnian Community of Victoria conducted a major event at Portianou Cultural Centreas part of the centenary commemorative events on Lemnos.
Firstly,Marlene Varvaras on behalf of the Lemnian Community of Victoria officially presented a plaque to the Lemnian Authorities to accompany the gift of the Lemnos Gallipoli Photographic Exhibition featuring 40 iconic photographs taken on Lemnos in 1915. These were launched in Melbourne earlier this year. The photographs were displayed throughout the hall and will be displayed on Lemnos in an appropriate publicly accessible location. The Photographic Exhibition will be on display at the Portianou Cultural Centre for the duration of the Centenary Events.

Secondly, I delivered a key-note historical address - 'Commemorating Gallipoli's Hellenic Heart - Lemnos 1915' outlining Lemnos' connection with the Anzac's.
This combined event was well attended - with many members of the assembled diplomatic corps present (from Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Canada and New Zealand amongst others), representatives of the military, Lemnos authorities and local Lemnians.
Thanks to the Lemnos authorities for inviting me to make this presentation and for organising this event.

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Centenary of Anzac - Commemorative Event 4 - Military and Community March Past at Mudros

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

The wreath-laying at East Mudros Military Cemetery was followed by a major march-past parade - including representatives of the Greek military units, the sailors of the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Success and various local Lemnian folkloric associations. Well done Lemnos. 
After the march past, the sailors of the HMAS Success visited the Anzac Memorial at Mudros Harbour - pictured with our Committee member and President of the Lemnian Community of Victoria, Malama Varvaras.
Lest we forget.

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Lemnos Centenary of Anzac - Commemorative Event 3 - East Mudros Military Cemetery Wreath-laying

On the 19th April, the third commemorative event took place on Lemnos - the formal commemoration of the dead at East Mudros Military Cemetery.
This was one of Lemnos' best Anzac commemorations. It was a very well-attended memorial service, with the Greek military, the sailors of the HMAS Success were present, along with military attaches from France and Canada. Ambassadors and representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland and France were in attendance. 
The centrepiece of the ceremony was the wreath-laying in recognition of our brave Anzac and Allied soldiers and nurses who gave their lives 100 years ago. Amongst the many representatives that laid wreaths, those from Australia included the Australian Ambassador to Greece, his Excellency John Griffin, Australia Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO CSC RAN, Richard Dalla-Riva MP (Victoria), Peter Katsambanis MP (WA), our President Lee Tarlamis laid a wreath on behalf of our Committee, Marlene Varvaras (Lemnian Community of Victoria), Christina Despoteris (Pan-Lemnian Federation of Australia), Nick Kambouris (RSL Hellenic Sub-Branch) and Liz Kaydos (Lemnos 1915).  
The ceremony was attended by hundreds, including many from our Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee in Melbourne.
A new and major aspect of this commemoration was the participation of the sailors of the Australian warship, the HMAS Success - the first Australian warship to visit Lemnos since 1918.
Lest we forget

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Lee Tarlamis 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Ships company HMAS Success. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Christina Despoteris lays a wreath. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Liz Kaydos lays a wreath. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Me and members of our Committee - Terry Paule, Christina Despoteris, Nick and Sophia Kambouris and Malama Varvaras. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Jim Claven and Lee Tarlamis
Secretary and President
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee

Touring Canadian Nurses and Soldiers Lemnos Sites

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

On the 19th April I had the honouring of showing the Canadian Ambassador, His Excellency Robert Peck, his wife and his team - including the Canadian Military attaché - a number of the sites on Lemnos connected with the Canadian nurses who served on the Island in its two field hospitals as well as the graves of some of the Canadian soldiers buried on Lemnos. Also took the opportunity to visit the historic Maritime Museum at Nea Koutali, as well as a former monastery that had been visited by Canadian nurses in 1915.
The latter served in the Newfoundland regiments and formations with the British Army at Gallipoli.
Lest we forget.

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

At the Maritime Museum, with its Director and the Director of the National Maritime in Sydney. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Mr and Mrs Peck near the site of the Canadian field hospitals in 1915. Photograph Jim Claven 2015

Jim Claven
Secretary
Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee