On 29th April 1941 a Greek caïque with retreating soldiers on board was bombed in the bay of Kaminia (Delphinia) near Kardamyli.  Seven soldiers were killed. The diarist, Panayiotis Kompiliris, was a teenager at the time.  He became an infantry lieutenant in the Civil War 1948-1950 and later a teacher and author. In 1963 he wrote the poem below about the event.

To an imaginary monument*

 You will stand here for eternity

sacred, white plaque

to tell the truth

about an immortal glory!

IN ETERNAL HONOUR

AND ETERNAL MEMORY

OF THE BRITSH, AUSTRALIANS

NEW ZEALANDERS AND CYPRIOTS

WHO FELL HERE ON APRIL 29, 1941.

GREECE IN GRATITUDE.

And every April

when Spring comes

you will wake up

from your deep sleep

and you will see and smell the flowers

and hear the nightingales.

 

British, Australians,

New Zealanders and Cypriots

with your strength and sacrifice

you helped bring freedom to us.

This lonely beach

every April will make

a wreath of myrtle and ivy

in eternal memory of you.

Rustling cypresses, ivy, myrtles

and the small chapel**

will always guard your memory

eternal and sacred!

 

You will always be guarded

by calm or stormy blue Greek waters

and by the waves of your motherland

which will come from all corners of the earth

to greet you with love and sadness.

 

*’imaginary’ because there is no monument or plaque

** the chapel of Virgin Mary on the Chlavorto peninsula

His daughter Yota is an honorary member of the Brotherhood and there is more information on Panayiotis Kompiliris in the archive section of our website.