The countdown is on for the completion of Western Australia’s much anticipated Battle of Crete Memorial, with the committee spearheading the project announcing the 11th of May 2024 as the unveiling date.
In attendance will be the two co-patrons of the memorial: the Greek Orthodox Archbishop Makarios and Mr Richard Sandover, whose uncle had served in the Battle.
It is believed to be the first memorial of its kind in Australia, fully dedicated to the historical battle.
Initiated by the state’s Greek Australian RSL, it has enjoyed support from the broader community to come to fruition, after several years of planning, negotiation and fundraising.
“We established a specific subcommittee, the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee,” the RSL branch President and Committee Chairperson Bill Evangel told Neos Kosmos.
The idea of erecting a memorial for the Battle of Crete started from a brainstorming discussion between Evangel and historian John Yiannakis some six years ago.
“Because we felt that it was one of those battles that was perhaps not given due recognition in in the wider community, other than those who really look into Australian war history.
“So, we thought it would be a good idea to establish a memorial of significance so that school children and the general public could attend and get further knowledge about what happened during the battle,” Mr Evangel said.
The initiative, Dr Yiannakis adds, aims to recognise the significance the Battle of Crete has in Australian and Greek military history.
The memorial design attributed to Joan and Charlie Smith of Smith Sculptors portrays a strong symbolism around war’s consequences on our lives.
“In particular, it seeks to acknowledge the courage, sacrifice and commitment of those who served and endured the Battle of Crete, both Australian and Greek, in their defence of liberty,” Dr Yiannakis noted.
The campaign in Crete has special significance particularly for Western Australians with direct links to ANZACs, as it involved HMAS Perth and the City of Perth 2/11th Battalion.
At the age of 105, Arthur Leggett OAM is one of the remaining two survivors of the Battle, a former prisoner of war who made it home.
He was the dignitary of a sod turning ceremony which took place in December in the presence of federal politicians and other guests to mark the location of the memorial in the Saw Avenue precinct of Kings Park, Perth.
“The [memorial] concept is no longer a concept, it’s a reality. And so, we marked the occasion to allow the elderly veteran the opportunity to see where the memorial would be built, and also give him the honour of turning the first sod of soil,” Mr Evangel explained.
He says that as a Committee, they feel fortunate for receiving generous funding for the project, in recognition of the memorial’s significance.
“Federal and State funds including a Lotterywest grant, along with private donations, have made possible this important and impressive Memorial,” Dr Yiannakis noted.
Administered and supported by the National Trust of Western Australia, the Memorial has also received extensive support from the Greek Community, the Greek Consul, the City of Perth, St Andrew’s Grammar and a number of industry groups.
Just before Christmas, the site was prepared with 30 square metres of concrete poured.
The Memorial is due for completion in late April/early May 2024.
