Welcome to our website, which is in honour of Allied Veterans and their fallen comrades who served in Greece in World War Two.
Our aim is to:
- create awareness and understanding of the ill-fated Greek Campaign
- promote the ongoing work and activities of ‘The Brotherhood of Veterans of The Greek Campaign 1940 to 1941’ for veterans and their families.
30 years since it was founded by Edwin Horlington MBE, The Brotherhood continues to be very active due to the hard work and dedication of Edwin’s daughter Janet Parkin (formerly Buttery, née Horlington) and, until a few years ago, our President Frank J Gill (Lance Corporal, Royal Engineers).
The 1941 Greek Campaign has been commemorated with a memorial service, attended by veterans and their families from the UK, in Kalamata in May every year since 1994. We also hold an annual service at the National Memorial Arboretum in the UK every September.
Our Archive of veterans stories is available to view on our website. For every veteran listed we provide a summary record. For others, we also have a copy of their POW questionnaire. For the rest, we have a comprehensive story including Pre-Greece, Greek Campaign, Post-Greece and sometimes a Post Script about life after the war.
Kalamata 2027 – 86th Anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign
This will be held at the entrance to the Municipal Railway Park in Kalamata on Tuesday 11th May 2027. Please email us at greekveterans@gmail.com if you would like further details.
UK Reunion 2027 – 86th Anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign
This will be held at the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 4th September 2027. Please email us at greekveterans@gmail.com if you would like further details.
UK Reunion 2026 – 85th Anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign
This year the service was held at the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 12th September 2026. We were delighted to welcome Father Samuel Christoforou from the Greek Orthodox Church in Walsall (the church where Father John was based before he retired). He led our service admirably and gave a very appropriate and impressive sermon.
We were also very pleased that Captain Alexandros Xanthouleas, Greek Defence Attaché, joined us again. Also, several service personnel including a Wg Cdr, four Sqn Ldrs and a Lt Cdr.
Janet Parkin gave a brief welcome and introduced Paul Hadwin, Grandson of Driver Tom Hadwin, RASC who officially welcomed Father Samuel and our guests. Paul reminded us that it was thirty years ago in 1996 that the first tree in the Arboretum had been planted by Janet Parkin’s father, Edwin Horlington. He also emphasised the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by our forefathers 85 years ago.
David Sanderson, Brotherhood Chairman, then gave an address which can be found with this link: UK Reunion – 85th Anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign
Five wreaths were laid: Captain Alexandros Xanthouleas, HN, Greek Defence Attaché, on behalf of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff; Buster Beckett, in Memory of the Prisoners of War; Mrs Margret Stanbridge, on behalf of the Widows; Mrs Janet Parkin, In Memory of Deceased Members; Mr David Sanderson, on behalf of the Brotherhood of Veterans of the 1941 Greek Campaign.
We also have a Facebook Group
We have “members” only Facebook Group for day-to-day communication, exchanges and information concerning the WW2 in Greece. The group, which is a private closed group, has more than 2,000 members. If you are a Facebook user and care to join, the Facebook page can be found using the following link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ww2greekveterans.
News (please click on links below and see News section)
- Kalamata 2026 – 85th Anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign
- UK Reunion – 84th Anniversary 6th September 2025
- Commemoration of Anzacs in the 1941 Greek Campaign
- Incident in Kaminia Bay (Delphinia) 29th April 1941
- Anzac Memorial Plaque Trail across Greece
- English translation of Nikos Zervis’s book: Kalamata – Occupation – Resistance – Liberation available to buy
- Funding The Brotherhood activities
- Famous people who were also veterans of the Campaign