Charlie Parrott, 104, an Australian survivor of the Battle of Crete, was presented with a commemorative award on behalf of the Armed Forces of Greece in honour of his heroic contribution last Sunday.
Accompanied by his family, Mr Parrott attended the ANZAC Official Battle of Crete Remembrance Luncheon held at the Cretan Village, hosted by the Pancretan Association of Melbourne and the Cretan Brotherhood of Melbourne. The event, took place under the auspices of the Cretan Federation of Australia and New Zealand and the Battle of Crete and Rest of Greece Remembrance Council.
During the luncheon, Air Force Vice Admiral Georgios Kyriakou, Chief of Staff of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Mr Parrott with the award.
Upon accepting his award Mr Perot shared that he holds deep admiration and affection for the island, which he considers his second home.
The speakers paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of Australian and other Allied soldiers in Crete. They also lauded the remarkable resilience and benevolence of the Cretan people, who not only valiantly defended their island but also provided protection and assistance to the Allied soldiers, displaying selflessness and unwavering dedication.
As part of the commemoration, the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee organised a Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance on Saturday, led by Chief of Staff Vice Admiral George Kyriakou, Commander of the Navy Stylianos Mitsiotis, and Military Attaché Colonel Ioannis Fassianos from Greece who travelled to Australia for the commemorative events.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese extended warm greetings on the occasion of the 82nd anniversary of the Battle of Crete, highlighting the enduring historical bonds between the Greek and Australian people.
In a message, Archbishop Makarios also spoke of the indomitable spirit of the Cretans, who refused to surrender without a fight to the would-be conquerors of their mighty island.
