The Hellenic Republic honoured the descendants of Australians who fought on Greek soil during World War II. Daughters and sons and grandchildren arrived adorned with the medals of their elders, with pride etched on their faces.
They attended the Greek Consulate in Melbourne and the Greek chapter of the RSL.
“During World War II, 17,000 Australians served in Greece, of whom 840 were killed and buried on Greek soil. Many soldiers were captured, and some paid the ultimate price in battle,” said Steve Kyritsis OAM, the President of the Australian Hellenic Memorial Foundation, who presented the event.
Kyritsis was instrumental in helping to ensure that the descendants of Australian veterans are traced and honoured.
In the early 1970s, the Greek government awarded the Greek Campaign Medal to Australian veterans who served in Greece during World War II as a symbol of appreciation for their contribution.
Two years ago, the Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, initiated a survey led by , to identify Australian veterans or their families who had not yet received the Hellenic Campaign Medal.
Kyritsis, with the help of Victorian Veterans magazines and the National Veterans Gazette, placed notices to seek out the families of veterans entitled to the Hellenic Campaign Medal from 1940-41.
His research included the Canberra National Archives particularly thoroughly to verify the service records of veterans who served in Greece from 1940 to 1941.
This search proved difficult but fruitful, as Kyritsis was able to locate veterans and their families who were eligible for the Greek Campaign Medal, and 40 families contacted him, confirming the success of his diligent efforts.
The veterans’ relatives were at the event on Sunday. They received the Greek Medal from the Consul General Emmanuel Kakavelakis and the Military Attaché of Greece in Canberra, Colonel Ioannis Fassianos.
In their speeches, the Consul General and the Colonel Fassianos could not hide their emotion while thanking Australia and the veterans who stood by Greece in difficult times and thus “forged unbreakable bonds between the two countries”.
They stressed that the sacrifices made back then should not be forgotten and underlined the need to keep the memory alive.
“We must strive to keep the memory of this campaign unquenched. We owe it to the fighters and the dead of the great struggle for the freedom of the peoples,” Colonel Fassianos said.
Steve Kyritsis read the names of the veterans who fought in Greece and invited their descendants to receive the medal from the Consul General Kakavelakis, and Colonel Fassianos.
The Greek Branch of the RSL was filled with Australians and Greeks who applauded fervently each time Kiritsis announced the names of the veterans.
Medal Recipients
Private, Anderson Claring
Service Number,VX42581, Unit 2/8 Battalion.
Born 23 August 1911, Melbourne Victoria.
Date of Enlistment 1ST July 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Caulfield Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 30 August 1945.
Prisoner of war, Yes.
Private, Ayer, Norman Bedford
Service Number, WX3212, Unit 2/7 Field Ambulance.
Born First February 1907, Bunbury Western Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 22nd May 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Perth Western Australia.
Date of discharged, 17th May 1944.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Private, Balsarini, Leslie Joseph
Service Number, VX43875, Unit 5, RFTS, 2/7 Battalion.
Born 12 September, 1918, Boort Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 4TH July 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Caulfield Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 11 September 1945.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Sergeant, Baylis, Leighton Lewellwyn
Service Number VX3382, Unit, 2/7 Infantry Battalion.
Born 22 July 1913, Deniliquin NSW.
Date of Enlistment, 8TH November 1939.
Place of Enlistment, South Melbourne Victoria.
Date of Death, 20TH September 1941.
Lieutenant, Blore, Alfred Stewart
Service Number, VX9550, Unit, 1 ARMD Division.
Born, 17 March 1915, Richmond Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 21ST December 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Melbourne Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 4TH October 1945.
Private, Bowler, George James
Service Number, VX14802, Unit, 2/6 Battalion.
Born, 11 June 1906, Kola Boge, INDIA.
Date of Enlistment, 23 February 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Horsham Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 15th September 1945.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Private, Butler, Oscar Cecil
Service Number, NX13426, Unit, HQ. Guard Battalion.
Born, 1ST November 1905, Windsor, NSW.
Date of Enlistment,26 April 1940
Place of Enlistment, Paddington, NSW.
Date of Discharged, 10 October 1941.
Private,Byrne, Kevin, Alphonsus
Service Number, VX47857, Unit, Australian Army Service Corps.
Born, 27TH October 1917, Albury Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 5TH August 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Caulfield Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 10TH August 1945.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Private, Coy, Vincent George
Service Number, VX21865, Unit, 2/8 Field Coy Engineers.
Born, 26TH September 1912, South Melbourne Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 6TH June 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Caulfield Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 31ST August 1945.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Major, Cunningham, Thomas Duncan
Service Number, VX9778, Rank, Unit Australian Army Provost, Corps.
Born, 11 October 1899, Berri South Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 28 December 1939.
Place of Enlistment, South Melbourne, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 1ST November 1945.
Gunner, Eager, Lawrence Frederick
Service Number, VX37369, Unit, 3 Light Aircraft Regiment.
Born, 9TH October 1913, Hawthorn Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 20TH July 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Royal Park Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 24TH September 1945.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Private, Evans, Arthur Raymond
Service Number, WX2422, Unit, 2/2 Australian Field Workshop.
Born, 29TH October 1918, East Kondut Ballidu, Western Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 26TH April 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Northam, Western Australia.
Date of Discharged, 27TH August 1945.
Prisoner of War, yes.
Signalman, Fitzpatrick, John Charles
Service Number, VX889, Unit 6, Corps of Signals.
Born, 9th April 1919, Footscray Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 4th November 1939.
Place of Enlistment, East St Kilda, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 30TH October, 1942.
Captain, Freeman, Mena
Service Number QFX6127, Unit, Australian Army Nurses, 112 General Hospital.
Born 6th December 1915, Brisbane Queensland.
Date of Enlistment, 9th September 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Brisbane Queensland.
Date of Discharged, 22nd January 1944.
Private, Garner, Norman Leslie.
Service Number NX2781,Unit, 2/1ST Infantry Battalion.
Born, 9TH September 1911, Stockport England.
Date of Enlistment, 21ST October 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Haberfield New South Wales.
Date of Discharged, 5TH March 1942.
Private, Geals William
Service Number VX6561, Unit, 2/8 Infantry Battalion.
Born, 20 October 1918, Aberdeen Scotland.
Date of Enlistment,4 November, 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Wangaratta Victoria.
Date of discharge, 30 November 1943.
Sergeant, Hale, William Alfred
Service Number WX1721, Unit, 19 Infantry Brigade.
Born, 26TH December 1916, Leederville, Western Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 4TH March 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Subiaco, Western Australia.
Date of Discharged, 3RD October 1945.
Seargent, Hawkins, Raleigh Proudfoot
Service Number, VX35192, Unit, 657 Australian Light Aircraft Unit.
Born, 14th April 1903, Barmedman New South Wales.
Date of Enlistment, 26 July 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Royal Park Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 8th April 1945.
Private, Hughes Stanley Denis
Service Number NX28918, Unit, 2/2, Infantry Battalion 6 Division.
Born, 26TH November 1900, Morley England.
Date of Enlistment, 6TH June 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Paddington, New South Wales.
Date of Discharged, 8TH March 1944.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Gunner, Lennie, Douglas Donald
Service Number VX5824, Unit, 2/2 Field Regiment.
Born, 24TH May 1904, Peak Hill, Western Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 21ST October 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Dandenong Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 29TH April 1944.
Prisoner of War Yes.
Sapper, Lette, Alfred Edward
Service Number VX23537, Unit, 2/8 Field Company.
Born, 11TH September 1911, Launceston Tasmania.
Date of Enlistment, 25TH May 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Westgarth Victoria.
Killed in Action 20th April 1941 at Lamia pass.
Private, Madden, Douglas Keith.
Service Number VX23537, Unit, 2/6 Battalion.
Born, 1ST September 1919, Fitzroy Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 23RD April 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Caulfield Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 12TH May 1945.
Gunner, McGreevy, William Stanley
Service Number, VX4817,Unit, Heavy Weapon Section.
Born, 2ND October 1904, Liverpool England.
Date of Enlistment, 20TH October 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Ballarat Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 1ST June 1944.
Sergeant, McKay, Walter William
Service Number VX1096, Unit, 2/2 Field Regiment.
Born, 25TH March 1915, Hobart, Tasmania.
Date of Enlistment, 20TH November 1939.
Place of Enlistment, East St Kilda Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 28th August 1945.
Bombardier, McVeigh, Thomas Richard
Service Number VX825, Unit, 2/2 Field Regiment.
Born, 27th August 1905, Heatherton Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 31st October 1939.
Place of Enlistment, East St Kilda Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 4th September 1945.
Prisoner of War Yes.
Lieutenant, Merlo, Henry Dominic
Service Number, VX685, Unit, 2/2 Field Regiment.
Born, 23 March 1913, Brookville, Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 25TH October 1939.
Place of Enlistment, East St Kilda, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 23RD October 1943.
Private, Milne, Gordon Gerrard
Service Number, VX9985, Unit, 2/8 Battalion.
Born, 2ND July 1914, North Carlton, Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 17TH January 1940.
Place of Enlistment, South Melbourne, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 26TH April, 1943.
Private, Morris, Clifford Harrie
Service Number, VX15068, Unit, 2/5 Infantry Battalion.
Born, 4TH October 1915, Mildura Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 1ST March 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Ballarat Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 15TH November 1945 .
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Gunner, Morris, Edward Barnes
Service Number, SX370, Unit, 2/3 Field Regiment.
Born, 14TH February 1914, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 20TH October, 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Keswick, South Australia.
Killed in Action, 27TH April 1941.
Lance Corporal, Osborne, Thomas Stanley
Service Number, VX4541, Unit, 120 Australian General Transports.
Born, 22ND April 1915, Chelsea, Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 6TH November 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Brighton, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 13TH September, 1944.
Captain, Pitts, Allan, Reid
Service Number, VX13928, Unit, 2/2 Field Regiment.
Born, 14TH April, 1909, Melbourne Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 1ST May 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Caulfield, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 3RD October, 1945.
Private, Reynolds, John, Lewis
Service Number, SX747, Unit, 6 Division, A S C .
Born, 1ST March 1918, Crafers, South Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 30TH October, 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Adelaide, South Australia.
Date of Discharged, 29TH September 1945.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Lieutenant, Robinson, Mervyn, Frank
Service Number, NX8727, Unit, 2/48, Australian Infantry Battalion.
Born, 13 March, 1917, Rozelle, New South Wales.
Date of Enlistment, 28TH November, 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Ingleburn, New south Wales.
Date of Discharged, 5TH March 1946.
Captain, Rowell, Norman, Howard
Service Number,VX4679, Unit, H.Q. Eastern Command.
Born, 12TH February 1913, Annandale, New South Wales.
Date of Enlistment, 16TH February 1931.
Place of Enlistment, Not Available, or, Not Recorded.
Date of Discharged, 31ST January 1970. *nearly 40 years service.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Private, Schaffert, Thomas Leslie
Service Number, VX9529, Unit, 2/8 Australian Infantry Battalion.
Born, 2nd June 1905, North Carlton Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 13th December 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Melbourne Victoria.
Date of Discharged,2nd July 1944.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Private, Sterlson, Alexander, Hugh
Service Number, VX4261, Unit, 2/5 Australian Infantry Battalion.
Born, 8TH September 1913, Carlton, Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 24TH October, 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Fitzroy, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 22ND September 1945.
Prisoner of War, Yes.
Sergeant, Spice, Clifford, Robert
Service Number, WX2509, Unit, 2/1, Machine Gun Battalion.
Born, 17TH April, 1919, Northam, Western Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 26TH April 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Northam, Western Australia.
Date of Discharged, 4TH December, 1945.
Lieutenant Colonel, Syme, John Douglas
Service Number, VX107, Unit, 2/2 Australian Field Regiment.
Born, 18TH November 1908, Clarmont, Western Australia.
Date of Enlistment, 26TH October 1939.
Place of Enlistment, South Melbourne, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 26TH March 1947.
Lieutenant, Weller, Francis George
Service Number, VX15411. Unit, 4 Field Regiment.
Born, 29th March 1919, Wodonga Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 27th March 1940.
Place of Enlistment, Torquay, Victoria.
Date of Discharged, 13th April 1945.
Corporal, Whelan, Francis James.(shan)
Service Number, VX5562, 2/7 Australian Infantry Battalion.
Born, 10TH June 1916, Lilydale, Victoria.
Date of Enlistment, 4TH November 1939.
Place of Enlistment, Hawthorne, Victoria.
Killed in Action CRETE 29TH May 1941.
