News-Info-Alerts

Re: Australia Remembers War Dead and POWs

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: July 08, 2002

"PM visits war memorial
By Debra Way
07jul02

CRETE, Greece: Prime Minister John Howard made a pilgrimage to the Greek-Australian War Memorial on the island of Crete, to pay his respects to Australian and allied soldiers who died in the World War II battle there.
 ADVERTISEMENTAfter an audience with the Pope at the Vatican yesterday, Mr Howard returned to Greece today to lay a wreath at the memorial commemorating those who died in the battle of Crete.

The prime minister toured key sites where the battle raged in May 1941, when Australian and other allied forces, which had earlier been evacuated from the Greek mainland, sought unsuccessfully to repel a German airborne invasion of the island.

There are 197 Australians buried at the Souda Bay Commonwealth War Graves cemetery alone.

The Australian forces were deployed mainly around Rethymnon, where large numbers were captured and interned in German prisoner of war camps.

Some escaped with the help of Cretan civilians and resistance fighters who offered refuge.

Mr Howard and his wife Janette were guests of honour at a commemorative service at the Hellenic-Australian Memorial Park at Rethymnon.

The prime minister inspected a Greek guard of honour which was followed by a brief religious ceremony with prayers by Greek Orthodox priests.

In a moving ceremony, Mr and Mrs Howard then laid wreaths before the national anthems of both countries were played.

During Mr Howard's visit to Athens last week, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis praised the historic links between Greece and Australia, particularly on the battlefields.

"Australia and Greece have bonds of very close links ... a number of young Australians fought by our side here in Greece against Nazism," he said.

"They have lost their lives in the battle of Crete and they have fought by our side here in Greece."

Mr Howard thanked the prime minister for his comments.

"I thank you for your references to the contribution that Australians made in World War II in fighting side by side with the people of Greece," he said.

"And I will have an opportunity to visit Crete and to personally honour the contribution made by so many in that very tragic battle in 1941."

While on Crete today, Mr Howard also visited the Knossos site, considered to be the most important site of ancient Minoan culture existing in the period 2000BC to 1400BC.
AAP"