UK Reunion – 80th Anniversary 11th September 2021

We were blessed with good weather and an excellent turn-out for our service at the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum.  We were very pleased to have an excellent Uk military presence at this special 80th Anniversary service. There were 14 representatives from various units which had been actively involved in the original campaign, who attended our service.  The most senior of these was a Brigadier Humphris, 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade. Also attending was Captain Ioannis Papavlachos, the Greek Defence Attaché; Lieutenant Emma Thomas of the New Zealand Defence Force and Sqn Leader Rashmin Gunaratne, Australian Defence Force.

All five of our standards were carried this year by the following ‘volunteers’: Ian Brown, Paul Hadwin, Barry Parkin, Colin Pleavin and Peter Simpson. In addition, the Branch Chairman of Bournemouth, Pool and District Branch of the Royal Tank Regiment, Retired Captain Dave Larcombe, attended and carried an RTR standard.

Father John (Nankivell) led the service, ably assisted, as usual, by his wife, Georgina. Janet Parkin gave a short welcome and introduction followed by an address from our Chairman David Sanderson. Please click on this link to read David’s speech.

David Sanderson address

Nine wreaths were laid this year – one by each of our three special guests (see above): plus Brigadier Humphris on behalf of all the military representatives present; Captain (Retired) Dean Hutton, Royal Tank Regiment; Roger Hadwin – Prisoners of War; Mary Sanderson – on behalf of the Widows; Margaret Stanbridge – in Remembrance of Deceased Members; and Mark Buttery on behalf of the Brotherhood. Geoff Swinnerton gave the oration and acted as Parade Marshall.  Many thanks to all who helped make the 80th anniversary service a memorable occasion.

80th anniversary commemoration Saturday 11th September 2021

As a reminder, this year’s service will be held in the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield on Saturday 11th September at 11.30am or, if wet, at 12 noon in the Chapel.  Arrangements at the Arboretum are a little different this year. All visits must be pre-booked – within the two weeks leading up to 11th September, no earlier.  If booking on-line the email address is thenma.org.uk.  If you are arriving by car, please note that one ticket is required per four wheeled vehicle and  all passengers are included in the ticket.  If you cannot book on-line then phone the NMA 01283 245 100.  Most facilities are open: restaurant, coffee shop etc.

After the service, we have made arrangements for a buffet lunch (at a modest cost per head) to be provided for us at a local venue, not far from the Arboretum. If you wish to join us for lunch, please email us at greekveterans@gmail.com and we will you send you the details. We will need to know numbers in advance for catering purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

Update: UK Reunion 80th anniversary Saturday 11th September 2021

This year’s service will be held in the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield on Saturday 11th September at 11.30am or, if wet, at 12 noon in the Chapel. (Please note the NMA website currently states 11am start which is incorrect). Arrangements at the Arboretum are a little different this year. All visits must be pre-booked – within the two weeks leading up to 11th September, no earlier.  If booking on-line the email address is thenma.org.uk.  If you are arriving by car, please note that one ticket is required per four wheeled vehicle and  all passengers are included in the ticket.  If you cannot book on-line then phone the NMA 01283 245 100.  Most facilities are open: restaurant, coffee shop etc.

After the service, we have made arrangements for a buffet lunch (at a modest cost per head) to be provided for us at a local venue, not far from the Arboretum. If you wish to join us for lunch, please email us at greekveterans@gmail.com and we will you send you the details. We will need to know numbers in advance for catering purposes.

 

 

 

 

 

Kalamata City Council commemorates 80th anniversary

Kalamata City Council will be marking the 80th Anniversary with two events this week.
 
The first event will be held today, Thursday 13th May with a commemorative evening including speeches and a lecture on “Historical Elements of the Battle of Kalamata” by Dr Marios Athanasopoulos of the Philology Department, University of the Peloponnese. David Sanderson, Chairman of the Brotherhood and Janet Parkin, Secretary, have been invited to participate by zoom and make short speeches. The Defence Attaché, Captain Alex Bush RN will be represented by Sqn Ldr Marcus Fountain. The event will be available to view live on YouTube and on Facebook 6.00pm UK time.
Here are the links:
The second event will take place tomorrow, Friday 14th May with  a wreath laying ceremony and speeches at the memorial in Kalamata. A speech prepared by Janet Parkin will given by Jane Thomas and a poppy wreath laid on behalf of The Brotherhood by Di Billinge. Sq Ldr Marcus Fountain will lay a wreath on behalf of The Government of the United Kingdom.

Kalamata 80th anniversary of The 1941 Greek Campaign will not be going ahead

We had previously announced that this year’s service in Kalamata was scheduled to be held on Tuesday 18th May 2021. We had very much hoped that travel restrictions would have been eased by then so we could travel to Greece. Unfortunately not. Due to UK lockdown restrictions, international travel is not permitted until after 17th May 2021, at the very earliest. As a result, we will not be going ahead with our ceremony as planned. We are very sorry about this, not least as it is the 80th anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign. It is quite possible that the Mayor may arrange for a simple wreath laying service locally on that date. We will let you know if that is the case.

 

 

Update on Kalamata 80th anniversary of The 1941 Greek Campaign

The date of this year’s service is planned for Tuesday 18th May 2021. We are hoping that travel restrictions will be eased by then and travel to Kalamata will be possible, and that arrivals in Greece will not have to self-isolate as they do at the moment. We should have a better idea by Easter and will update you when we know more. In the meantime, you  should be able to check which airlines will be flying to Kalamata or Athens and also hotel options. We will keep you posted.

80th anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign in Kalamata 2021

We are hoping to  commemorate the 80th anniversary of the 1941 Greek Campaign in Kalamata next May, week commencing 17th May 2021. We have heard from the Mayor of Kalamata that they are currently planning to hold the service on Tuesday 18th May 2021. However, everything will depend on how things develop with the pandemic here and in Greece. Please note that nothing can be confirmed at this stage. We will provide more information as and when we know more.