A life-size statue of the Mule Corps to be placed in Nicosia, honouring the contingent of World War I soldiers who contributed to the Allied cause is in focus for Cyprus Community of NSW (CCNSW), who are about to launch a global fund to design, build and install it.
The board of the CCNSW, its Cypriots for ANZAC Subcommittee and Australian War Animals Memorial announced it on the eve of Anzac Day as a means to recognise the Cypriots who took part in the First World I.
This is a tribute to the Macedonian Mule Corps – a formation of the British Salonika Army consisting primarily of Cypriot muleteers, and their mules, who were active between 1916-1919.
Roughly 12,000 members of this unit aided the British and Allied troops in Thessaloniki and Constantinople (Istanbul) during the conflict.
The plans for this monument in their honour comes off the back of the recent unveiling of a plaque recognising the Cypriot Mule Corps in Nicosia, which was led by Nigel Allsopp, President of the Australian War Animals Memorial.
Professor Atrikkos Varnavas of Flinders University, South Australia, said that the Corp played a “decisive role” in supplying British and allied forces in Thessaloniki and Constantinople (Istanbul).
“The use of horses, mules, and donkeys on the war front at the time was extremely valuable and important, since they transported military equipment to inaccessible areas that the motorised units of the army could not reach,” Professor Varnavas said.
He added that “Cypriots were excellent operators of these animals due to their agricultural backgrounds”and that 177 members of this unit died in action.
Achilleas Demetriades, who unveiled the plaque alongside Nicosia Mayor Constantinos Yiorkadjis, thanked to both the Nicosia municipality for hosting the plaque, and Nigel Allsopp, whose idea it had been to honour the mule corps.
“The ceremony creates a memorial not only for the people but also for the mules which served in the first world war,” he said, adding his hope that the memorial will “become a point of reference for animal lovers in Cyprus”.
Harry Andrews, a veteran and member of the Cyprus Community ‘s ANZAC Subcommittee, said that the work of the Mule Corp holds similarity with Simpson and his donkey in Gallipoli, arguing the risk and the skills of these soldiers says much about courage and dedication to the cause.
Michael Kyriacou, President of the Cyprus Community of NSW, said “we are thankful for the work of Nigel Allsop to bring to light the deeds of the Mule Corp an integral part of the allies cause”.
He also noted that the Community is proud to take the lead and be part of this ambitious project to install a monument in the mule corps’ honour in Nicosia.
“This is what Community is all about, it is our duty to ensure we never forget our veterans, their work with the ANZACs that gave birth to an enduring mateship between Australia and Cyprus,” the president said.
Anzac Day march to be led by 103-year-old Cypriot WWII Veteran
In addition to their drive for this monument, the Cyprus Community of NSW will be participating in this year’s Sydney ANZAC Day march, with around 30 members to take part which includes 103-year-old WWII veteran Evripidis Mouxouris.
Mouxouris, who was born in Morphou, Cyprus on July 5, 1921, volunteered to fight in World War II and went to the Italian front at his own request, having also gone to Africa and other places in Europe.
Following the war, he returned to civilian life while participating in the struggle for an independent Cyprus and an end to British colonial rule.
He married his wife Panayiota in 1965 (five years after Cyprus achieved independence from Britain), and they had two children together, Eva, who was born in 1966, and Mario, who was born in 1974 on the day the town was occupied by the Turkish army.
Mouxouris and his family came to Australia in 1974 as refugees following the Turkish invasion, having been taken in by a Turkish Cypriot family in Sydney who helped them settle in during their first few months in the country.
The WWII veteran has been an enduring figure of the Cyprus Community, with him still regularly visiting the Club’s premises in Stanmore to play backgammon (τάβλι).
