Eighty-five years after the Battle of Crete, the memories of 1941 came alive once again in Rethymno, this time through the presence of the descendants of Australian soldiers who fought alongside the Cretans against the German forces.
In a particularly emotional ceremony, the Municipality of Rethymno awarded the Battle of Crete Medal to descendants of 15 Australian soldiers, honouring their contribution to one of the most dramatic moments of the Second World War.
The event was held at the Monument of Fallen Greek and Australian Warriors, in Reservists Officers Square, in the presence of political, diplomatic and local authorities. Also present were Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, as well as New Zealand’s Chargé d’Affaires, Joanna Heslop.
Also in attendance were Rethymno New Democracy MP Giannis Kefalogiannis, PASOK–KINAL MP Manolis Hnaris, Deputy Regional Governor of Rethymno Maria Lioni and Mayor of Rethymno Giorgis Marinakis.
The Mayor of Rethymno spoke of a “timeless and historic bond” between the two peoples, which “was forged during the Battle of Crete and continues to be strengthened to this day.”
“We recognise and honour the memory of those who came from the other side of the world to fight alongside the Cretans against the Nazis,” he noted, describing the medals as “a minimal recognition of their contribution and self-sacrifice.”
The presence of the families of the Australian soldiers carried particular symbolism, as they returned to the place where their ancestors fought more than eight decades ago.
It is no coincidence that of the 274 Australian soldiers killed in the Battle of Crete, 120 lost their lives in Rethymno, a fact which explains why the region remains to this day a point of reference for many Australian families.
As part of the ceremony, RSL scholarships were also awarded to top-performing students from Rethymno and Heraklion, while a financial donation was given to the Metropolis of Lampi, Syvritos and Sfakia, and commemorative coins were presented to the Deputy Regional Governor and the Mayor of Rethymno.
The event marked the second time the Municipality of Rethymno officially honoured the contribution of Australians in the Battle of Crete. The first corresponding event took place in 1975, in the presence of war veterans.
