Australian Hellenic Memorial

This monument unveiled in 2011 commemorates the Australian and Greek servicemen and women who served in the Greek campaign and Battle of Crete in 1941.

"This memorial is dedicated to the memory of those Australians who served and did in the Greek Campaign and to those Greek soldiers and civilians who fought so valiantly by their side during World War II. It celebrates the bond forged between the people of Australia and Greece.
The memorial depicts an external image of both Australia and Greece. In the centre of the monument is the crypt containing all the names of the Australians who were killed throughout Greece during World War II.
The Oikos, the focal sculptural element, is made of two stones. The upper limestone portion is from Crete, while the bluestone base is from an Australian quarry. This represents Greece supported by Australia. It stands on the pavement as if it were the island of Crete 'dropped like a stone in the waters of the Aegean'.
The ballot vase. decorated with olive and gum branches, stands in memory of the events that brought the Australians and Greeks together in a battle for justice and liberty. The vase is filled with black pebbles, representing the resounding 'NO' given by the Greek Government to their invaders in World War II. This follows the tradition of ancient Athenian democracy where pebbles were placed in a vase, with black pebbles symbolising no and white pebbles symbolising yes.

The GREEK CAMPAIGN: Greece entered World War II on 28th October1940, when the Italian Army invaded from Albania. The Greek Army dealt the first victory for the Allies by defeating the invasion of Mussolini's forces.
Led by General Sir Thomas Blamey CB CMG DSO, Australian troop including most of the 6th Division arrived in Greece in March 1941. When the Germans invaded in the following month, the Australians and other allied forces resisted the enemy advance into mainland Greece and defended Northern Greece, giving time for the Greek troops to return from Albania to join them. They then took part in battles against the Germans at Larisa, Mt Olympus and Thermopylae and in the Peloponnese after which they were deployed to defend the island of Crete.
At first light on 20th May 1941 the Germans, with over 1200 aircraft, attacked Crete. Under the command of General Kurt Student, 22,750 men landed by parachute, sea, air transport and glider. Crete faced the greatest German airborne attack of the war. Crete was defended by 33,000 servicemen from the 6th Australian Division, the Royal Australian Navy, the New Zealand Division and British Navy and Army units, alongside 11,000 Greek soldiers.
In the Greek Campaign a total of 841 Australian soldiers lost their lives and some 3,000 Australian soldiers became prisoners of war."

"In honour of those who served and in memory of the Australian and Hellenic men and women who fought and lost their lives on mainland Greece and in the Battle of Crete during the Second World War".

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Source

• Text: Sharky Ward
• Photos: Anthony (Sharky) Ward (1), Anthony (Sharky) Ward (2, 3, 4)