The Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand has bid farewell to Charlie Parrott, Melbourne’s last surviving ANZAC Crete veteran who passed this week aged 104.
Born in Albury, New South Wales in 1919, Mr Parrott was enlisted in 1939 and eventually served in the 2nd / 8th Australian Infantry Battalion.
Following initial postings in the army kitchen and transports, he was deployed to Greece and fought at Vevi Pass before his battalion received orders to move to other defensive positions.
He was evacuated through Kalamata on the ship Costa Rica and eventually reaching Crete aboard a British destroyer that rescued him just before the Costa Rica sank.
Mr Parrott had been captured in Crete as a prisoner of war, during the Greece and Crete campaigns in 1941.
In May 2022, he was honoured by the Hellenic Defence Forces for his service as an Allied soldier. Earlier, in 2001, he had been chosen amongst his peers to return to the Greek island to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
“We are indebted to Charlie for his service and sacrifice in our parents homeland and will always hold a special place in our heart. We will forever remember him,” said the President of the Cretan Federation of Australia & New Zealand Tony Tsourdalakis on behalf of the Federation’s National Executive expressing their condolences to Mr Parrott’s family.
