The 85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete was commemorated at Adelaide’s National War Memorial on Tuesday, May 12, as members of the Greek Australian community, military representatives, clergy, dignitaries and veterans gathered for a solemn memorial service honouring the bravery, sacrifices and resilience of the ANZAC’s and the people of Crete during one of the defining campaigns of the Second World War, being the German invasion of the island in May 1941.
Following the German airborne invasion of the island in May 1941 under Operation Mercury, Allied forces fought fiercely against overwhelming odds. Equally remembered is the courage of the Cretan civilian population, many of whom risked their lives to shelter Allied soldiers from Nazi forces following the fall of the island.
Opening the service, attendees were reminded of the enduring significance of the Battle of Crete and the profound human cost of war, in the face of overwhelming odds, reminding us of the profound cost of freedom and the enduring spirit of those who stood to defend it.
The ceremony commenced with the arrival of official guests accompanied by music from the 10/27 RSAR Band, before members of the 9 CSSB Australian Army mounted the catafalque party.
His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide conducted the memorial service and trisagion prayers, while Chaplain Paul Ghanem from the 3rd Health Battalion delivered the Prayer of Remembrance.
Addressing the assembly, the President of the Cretan Association of South Australia, Pantelis Fridakis, reflecting on the broader historical significance of the campaign, described the battle as a defining testament to resistance against tyranny and the defence of freedom.
“The Battle of Crete was not simply a military campaign. It became a testimony to the spirit of common people refusing to surrender their freedom, their homeland and each other. The resistance faced by the German forces during Operation Mercury shocked the world and altered military history forever,” Mr Fridakis said.
“Winston Churchill once said, hence, ‘we will not say that Greeks fought like heroes, but that heroes fought like Greeks.’ Those words were not given lightly. They were earned. They were earned in the mountains of Crete, earned in its villages, earned through blood sacrifice, resistance and unwavering spirit.
“Today, as descendant families of veterans, servicemen and women and communities gathered here, we… inherit the responsibility… to remember, to honour those who stood against darkness…”
Lieutenant General Konstantinos Bouzos, Chief of Staff of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, delivered an address emphasising the shared sacrifice and enduring bonds formed between Greece and Australia during the war.
“…In May 1941, the island of Crete was thrust into the crucible of war, becoming the stage for a first rank between Allied and Axis forces. Against overwhelming odds, the defenders of Crete, both military and civilian, exhibited extraordinary bravery and residence. They fought valiantly, determined to reverse freedom against tyranny. The Battle of Crete was not merely a clash of arms, but a testament to the human spirit…” Lieutenant General Bouzos said.
Lieutenant General Bouzos also reflected on the enduring friendship between the two nations forged through wartime sacrifice and mutual solidarity.
“These shared experiences of war and sacrifice have created an everlasting bond between Greece and Australia, that exceeds the great distance that separates them. The ANZAC troops, who fought in Greece, are remembered with reverence and gratitude, the same gratitude we owe to the brave Cretans who harboured the [ANZAC] soldiers on the island, endangering their own lives and the lives of their families, until they could be safely evacuated to Egypt,” he said.
A combined student choir from St George College and St Spyridon College then performed the national anthems of Australia and Greece.
The service concluded with the recitation of the Ode by RSL SA/NT & Broken Hill President Brad Flaherty, followed by the sounding of the Last Post, a minute’s silence, the Rouse, and a wreath laying ceremony.
Eighty-five years on, the memory of Crete continues to hold a profound place within our historical memory and reaffirms the enduring bonds of courage, sacrifice and humanity that continue to unite Greece and Australia across generations.
Dignitaries included His Grace Bishop Silouan of Adelaide; the Hon. Tom Koutsantonis MP, Treasurer of South Australia, representing Premier Peter Malinauskas; Mr Triantafyllos Gonas, representing the Federal Member for Adelaide, Mr Steve Georganas MP; Lieutenant General Konstantinos Bouzos, Chief of Staff of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, accompanied by Colonel Kyriakakos, Military Attaché at the Embassy of Greece in Canberra, and First Lieutenant Eleni Theodorou; Consul General of Greece in Adelaide Dr Alexandra Theodoropoulou; Brigadier Don Hogman of the 9th Brigade, Keswick Barracks; Commander Rebecca Wilson ADC, RAN, HMAS Encounter; Wing Commander Craig King CSC of RAAF Base Edinburgh; Corporal Scott Duncan representing the New Zealand Defence Force; Mr Emmanuel Mountakis, President of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand; Mr Brad Flaherty, President of the RSL SA/NT & Broken Hill.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Tantalos
