The Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee is holding its commemorative service of remembrance for the Armistice of Mudros as it does every year at Melbourne’s iconic Shrine of Remembrance. This year, the Lemnos Tree Plaque is also set to be unveiled on 31 October.
The Armistice is an important event that ended the war across the Middle East, with the representatives of the defeated Ottoman Empire signing the armistice document abroad the HMS Agamemnon anchored in Mudros Bay the day before.
“We are proud that the Shrine Governor’s have approved our proposal for the dedication of a tree in the Shrine grounds to Lemnos and its role in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915-16. The plaque has been funded by our Committee,” says Jim Claven, Secretary of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee.
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“This is a very special occasion. Such dedications are very special. There is only one other such dedication to Greece and its role in Anzac – the tree dedicated to the battle of Crete in WW2. We are honoured to have been able to add the important role of Lemnos to this list. As far as the Committee is aware, this is the first such dedication at any war memorial in Australia.”
The tree and the plaque – honouring the role of Lemnos – will now be in the trust and care of the Shrine of Remembrance in perpetuity.
READ MORE: Anzac Day: Lemnos’ Role Remembered in Greece and Australia
The service will commence at 11.45am on 31 October and conclude at 12 noon, with refreshments served in the Shrine. The tree will be dedicated and the new plaque unveiled during the service.