The fall of Kalamata in April 1941 saw Allied soldiers make desperate attempts to evade capture. Many of these evaders made their way down the Mani coastline, mostly on foot, through its rough tracks and paths and on to its small seaside villages in the hope of evacuation by Allied warships. All the while they were subjected to enemy air attack during the day and to the ever-advancing enemy troops.
Assisted by the local people, eventually over 200 would be evacuated by three Royal Navy warships in the early hours of 1st May 1941, successfully transporting the men to Crete and Egypt. This mini-Dunkirk – the final Allied evacuation from the Greek mainland – will soon be commemorated with the installation of a new commemorative plaque.
This is the initiative of historian Jim Claven OAM working with Australian Pammessinian Brotherhood Papaflessas and Municipality of the Mani. It is hoped that the plaque will be installed and unveiled in May 2025.