Following on its launch last year at the Greek Film Festival in both Melbourne and Sydney, the new 1941 Greek campaign documentary film entitled Anzac The Greek Chapter is spreading its wings.
As many readers know, this 90 minute documentary tells the story of the valiant defence of Greece against the Axis invasion in April-May 1941 like never before. Drawing on over 130 hours of veteran interviews conducted by historian Dr Peter Ewer, the film presents Anzac veterans themselves sharing their previously untold stories of service in the Greek campaign, across the mainland and on to Crete. They recount the bitter battles and sorrows endured and reveal how lasting bonds of love and respect formed between the Anzacs and Greeks. The documentary supplements these vivid interviews with other relevant video footage and stills photographs to create a unique and fitting document of this essential part of the Hellenic link to the Anzac story.
Readers unfamiliar with the documentary can view a short trailer which features excerpts of the documentary, including many of the Greek Campaign veterans who were interviewed and which form the cornerstone of the documentary. More information about the film and the trailer can be accessed online at the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee webpage.
Recently the Festival Hellenika in South Australia announced its screening at the Henley and Grange RSL in Adelaide at 2-5pm on 4th May 2025. The screening will be held at the as part of Adelaide’s iconic annual Festival Hellenika. The following additional screenings across Australia have now been announced.
The documentary will screen at Melbourne’s fabulous Yarraville Festival at 4pm on Sunday 23 March. The screening will take place at the iconic Sun Theatre and will include a post-screening Q&A with myself as Associate Producer. The Festival’s Con Frescos said that he has been working to have this important Hellenic-Australian documentary shown at the Sun for many months. “How great to have this film shown in a venue and a suburb with rich Hellenic connections”, he said. The Yarraville screening has been made possible due to its sponsorship by Eleni’s Kitchen, Yarraville Grill and The Yarraville Club. All welcome.
It will then screen at Canberra’s impressive Hellenic Club at 7pm on Friday 4th April. This screening will be combined with the display of the Imbros and Gallipoli Pictorial Exhibition curated by myself for the Imvrians’ Society of Melbourne. I will provide a post-screening Q&A at the Club. The film’s narrator Barrie Cassidy may also be taking part in the Q&A. All welcome to both events. Contact Jim Claven via email for more information.
On Saturday 5th April Sydney’s Pan-Macedonian Association of NSW will then host a screening of the documentary, including a post-screening Q&A. The time and location are yet to be determined. This screening will complement the Association’s annual Battle of Vevi commemoration to be held at 1pm on Sunday 6th April at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, Sydney. I will provide a presentation on the significance of the battle of Vevi during this year’s service. This is particularly relevant as the battle of Vevi features in the veteran accounts in the documentary film. All are welcome to both events. Contact Jim Claven via email for more information.
This documentary was produced for the Melbourne-based Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc by historian Dr Peter Ewer and filmmaker John Irwin, assisted by the Committee’s historian Jim Claven OAM and communications consultant Vicki Kyritsis. Narrated by Barrie Cassidy whose father served in the campaign, the documentary is a unique account of this campaign and of the Anzacs who served there. It was funded by a grant provided through the Australian Government’s Department of Veterans’ Affairs Saluting Their Service Commemorations Program, with additional financial and in-kind support provided by the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee Inc. Copies of Jim Claven’s history of the Anzacs in the Greek campaign – Grecian Adventure – will also be available for purchase at the screenings.
The President of the Committee, Lee Tarlamis OAM MP, said that the Committee was very pleased at the reception the film has received to date and these new screenings are testimony to its significance.
“The fact that the audience – both the Hellenic and wider community – can finally see the campaign veterans themselves recount their experiences in such a vivid and heart-rending way is fantastic. Many veterans families have told us that the documentary has helped them “fill-in-the-gaps” in their family connections to the Anzacs in the Greek campaign,” he said.
Mr Tarlamis said that the Committee was proud of the filmmakers – Dr Peter Ewer and John Irwin – assisted by our Committee’s historian Jim Claven OAM and Vicki Kyritis provided communications support – for their work on behalf of the Committee.
“The documentary is another great part in our Committee’s work to honour and commemorate the Hellenic link to Australia’s Anzac story. The film tells the story of the Anzacs in the 1941 Greek campaign as it has never been done. Well done to the team,” Tarlamis said.
Screening details:
- Yarraville, 23rd March, The Sun Theatre.
- Canberra, 4th April, Apollo Room, The Hellenic Club.
- Sydney, 5th April, location to be announced.
- Adelaide, 4th May, Henley & Grange RSL.
More screenings are planned – including in Greece – watch this space. For more information or those interested in holding a free community screening, contact Committee Secretary Jim Claven OAM via email – jimclaven@yahoo.com.au.
*Jim Claven OAM is a trained historian, freelance writer and published author. He is the author of Grecian Adventure, a history of the Greek campaign, and Associate Producer of the Anzac The Greek Chapter documentary. He is currently working to secure further community screenings of the documentary in Australia and overseas.
