The legacy of the Battle of Crete was immortalised this past weekend in Perth with the unveiling of Australia’s first ever memorial for this WWII conflict.
The Battle of Crete Memorial was formally revealed on Saturday 11 May in Kings Park, featuring a list of dignitaries and official guests.
The famous battle holds great significance regarding the relationship between Greece and Australia as both nations fought together along with New Zealand and British forces.
The event featured the participation of 105-year-old Arthur Leggett OAM, reportedly one of the two last surviving Australians who served in the battle, as he served as the guest of honour for the memorial’s unveiling.
WA Premier Roger Cook was among the many dignitaries who attended, along with the Ambassador of Greece in Australia, Stavros Venizelos.
Also in attendance was the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Australia Makarios, who served as the memorial’s co-patron alongside Richard Sandover, the nephew of a senior officer who had commanded the West Australian Battalion on Crete.
The WA Premier stated that it was an honour to be at the unveiling of the memorial which recognises the battle that took place 83 years ago and featured a strong contingent of Australian (and specifically WA) soldiers.
“It will serve as a permanent reminder about the sacrifices made for our freedom,” Cook said in a post on his Facebook page.
The project was an initiative spearheaded by the state’s Greek Australian RSL under the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee (BCMC), and it is believed that it is the first memorial of its kind in Australia that is fully dedicated to the historical battle.
