It has been announced that their Excellencies the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and the Governor General of Australia, the Hon David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), will travel to the northern Aegean Island of Lemnos on 2-3 May and will attend the forthcoming Gallipoli commemorations to be held there on 3 May.
Neos Kosmos understands that this is the first occasion where the Governor General of Australia has met the Hellenic President in Greece. It is also the first occasion that either of these representatives have attended the Gallipoli commemorations on Lemnos.
The Regional Government of the Northern Aegean has reported that 150 guests will also attend this major commemorative event, including the Hellenic Defence Minister.
The President and Governor General will also witness the commencement of works on the creation of the Lemnos Remembrance Trail, a joint initiative of the Australian and Greek Government.
Lemnos was the advanced base for the Gallipoli campaign, where the troops heading for the Gallipoli campaign were marshalled and the location of rest camps, medical facilities and stores.
Research by the historian Jim Claven has confirmed that nearly all Australians who served in Gallipoli campaign came to Lemnos for lesser or greater periods of time, not to mention the tens of thousands of other Allied service personnel who also came to Lemnos.
On Lemnos the troops interacted with the local population, enjoying their hospitality, a key milestone in the history of the connection between Australians and Greeks.
The concept of a trail was originally proposed by the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee and Lemnos authorities in 2018 following the erection of the Australian Pier Memorial north of Mudros, a memorial erected with the support of the Victorian Government. Both organisations committed to the erection more memorials on Lemnos as part of this trail.
The concept of a Lemnos Anzac trail was subsequently taken up by the Australian Government under the title of the Lemnos Remembrance Trail. Following the publication by the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee of his Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed book, the historian Jim Claven was engaged at the concept development stage of this project as a historical consultant.
Work to realise the Lemnos Remembrance Trail has been underway for a number of years, under an agreement between the Australian and Greek Governments, represented by the Hellenic Defence authorities.
This all follows last year’s meeting with the Hellenic President by representatives of Melbourne’s Greek Community Board. Headed by President Mr Bill Papastergiadis, OAM, the meeting included Mr Marinis Papiris and Ms Vicki Kyritsis.
During the audience Ms Kyritsis – who is also a member of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Executive – presented the Hellenic President with a copy of Lemnos & Gallipoli Revealed. Ms Kyritsis explained the work of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee, including its promotion of a Anzac heritage trail on Lemnos and support for the proposed Lemnos Remembrance Trail.
The Lemnos Committee’s President Mr Lee Tarlamis OAM MP welcomed the announcement.
“The presence of the Hellenic President and Australian Governor General on Lemnos, presiding over the Gallipoli commemorations at East Mudros Military Cemetery and the commencement of works on the Trail, is recognition of the role of Lemnos in this important part of the history of the First World War and of Greece. Their presence will be welcomed by all those interested in promoting awareness of Lemnos role but especially the tens of thousands of descendents of those who served there and those who are buried there, across Australia and beyond”, he said.
The Gallipoli commemorative services on Lemnos will be held at East Mudros Cemetery on 3 May 2023.
