We are planning to hold the 80th anniversary UK Reunion at the National Memorial Arboretum in Lichfield on Saturday 11th September 2021. We will provide more information due course.

As with Kalamata, our UK reunion at the National Memorial Arboretum didn’t happen this year. However, it did take place virtually, by Zoom. 21 of us met at 11.00 a.m on Saturday 12th September at the “Virtual Greek Grove”.

We were very pleased that our group included two special guests: Captain Athanasios Dimitriou, Defence Attaché of Greece in the UK and Ireland – who attended our UK service in 2019, and Lieutenant Colonel Emma Thomas from the New Zealand Defence Staff.

Janet Parkin welcomed everyone and began by reading a copy of the speech, which her father, Edwin Horlington (Founder of the Brotherhood) had given in October 1998 when the Greek Grove Chapel was dedicated.

” I look around me and I feel very proud of the members of this Brotherhood and what we have achieved.  This memorial will live on beyond us or our grandchildren’s great grandchildren.

It is not just a stone memorial that will weather and crumble away in time but a living entity which will grow more beautiful as the years pass.  People will come here to visit our chapel and wonder about the period of history it commemorates and they may go away impressed and determined to find out more about us and the comrades that we left behind.

I thank God for the past 57 years and think of those that would have liked to live them with us and be here now.

When we have all gone our spirits will live amongst the trees with our old comrades.

We were shown photos of how the plot originally looked in 1998 together with pictures of how the Greek Grove has evolved over the years.

Our reunion continued with everyone introducing themselves and sharing stories of the veterans they represented. We had an update on Frank Gill (our President) and his recent 101st birthday, together with a message from Father John who was unable to join us.

There was a lot of great interaction on the call  – almost like being together in the same room. Our Greek and New Zealand guests expressed appreciation at being part of the proceedings.

At the end, our Chairman David Sanderson gave the oration, after which the last post was played, followed by a silence and then reveille.

We are very sorry to announce that the 79th anniversary and UK Reunion of the 1941 Greek campaign in September has been cancelled.

The service was due to take place at 11.30am  in the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 12th September 2020.

Government guidelines allow gatherings of up to 30 people (at present)  and the numbers at our service in the Greek Grove are always in excess of this. In addition, the Arboretum is not allowing any indoor events to take place, so the Chapel would not be available (in case of wet weather).

We are very disappointed that we will not to be able to get together as planned, but look forward to seeing everyone again at a future Reunion.

Currently, we are still hoping to hold the 79th anniversary and UK Reunion of the 1941 Greek campaign in September as planned. The service is scheduled for 11.30am  in the Greek Grove (or if wet, in the chapel at 12 noon) at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 12th September 2020. Further updates and details will be published nearer the time.

The 79th anniversary and UK Reunion  of the 1941 Greek campaign will  be held in the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum Saturday 12th September 2020. Further details will be published nearer the time.

We had a very good turn out, with about 50 people attending the service – which, due to the lovely weather, we were able to hold in the Greek Grove.

Janet Parkin, our Secretary, gave the welcome speech in which she reiterated how important it was, 78 years after the 1941 Greek Campaign, to remember  and commemorate it.

We were very pleased that Frank Gill, our President, who celebrated his 100th birthday in July, was able to join us. Frank took the opportunity to say a few words, including the fact that he had been quite overwhelmed by the number of  cards and tributes he had received for his birthday. He thanked everyone from the bottom of his heart and said he was truly moved and very grateful to everyone.

We were delighted to welcome Captain Athanasios Dimitriou, the Greek Defence Attaché, and to welcome back representatives from Australia and New Zealand who had attended in 2018 – Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Evans, Department of Defence, Australian High Commission and Major Chris Shaw, New Zealand Defence Staff.

We were also very pleased to welcome, once again, Mrs Dora Cooper, 104 years old.  Dora is the widow of L/Cpl Francis Cooper of the 4^th Q.O. Hussars, PoW, Stalag 18A.  Dora  was accompanied by her son Cyril.

Father John (Nankivell) from the Greek Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Walsall  conducted the service – which, as usual,  went very well.  Four others from his congregation attended and assisted. As  usual their singing was beautiful and added to the occasion.

Four standards were carried – thank you to Phil Evans, Paul Hadwin, Colin Pleavin and David Sanderson.

In addition to the wreaths laid by our special guests, see above, poppy wreaths were also laid by Frank Gill – in memory of Fallen Comrades;  Buster (Doug) Beckett – Prisoners of War;  Mary Peterkin – Deceased Members and Mark Buttery on behalf of the Brotherhood.  Geoff Swinnerton gave the oration.  Len Cook, bugler, played the Last Post and Reveille – a stalwart who has been doing this for us for many years – and Barry Parkin acted as Parade Marshall.   Many thanks to you all.

The 78th anniversary and UK Reunion  of the 1941 Greek campaign will  be held at the National Memorial Arboretum on Saturday 7th September 2019 at 11.30am in The Greek Grove, or if wet, in the Chapel. Details of the service can be found on the Arboretum website. Should you wish to join us for refreshments after the service, at a nearby venue, please get in touch by email at greekveterans@gmail.com

Sadly, the weather wasn’t great so we held the service in the chapel and afterwards laid the wreaths at the altar in the Greek Grove.

Father John, with his wife Georgina, together with Marina from their church, attended.  As usual their singing was delightful and really added to the service.

We were delighted to welcome Captain P Koulouris, the Greek Defence Attaché; Major Chris Shaw, with his fiancée, New Zealand Defence Staff; and Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Evans and his wife, the Department of Defence, Australian High Commission, who all laid wreaths.

Frank Gill, our President, who celebrated his 99^th birthday in July, was with us with his daughter Trish and son-in-law Carl.

We were also very pleased to welcome, once again, Mrs Dora Cooper, 103 years old.  Dora is the widow of L/Cpl Francis Cooper of the 4^th Q.O. Hussars, PoW, Stalag 18A.  Dora  was accompanied by her son Cyril.

Four standards were carried – thank you to Paul Hadwin, Thomas Morgan, Colin Pleavin and David Sanderson.

Janet Parkin, our Secretary, gave a welcome speech after which Carol Swinnerton read out a short poem which she had written and which is reproduced here:

“PETALS on the ground, they lie there fallen, like the men that went before. The past is done and gone, but someone’s FATHER, BROTHER, SON, when we think of them, they still live on.”

In addition to the wreaths laid by our special guests, see above, poppy tributes were also laid by Frank Gill – in memory of Fallen Comrades; Buster (Doug) Beckett – Prisoners of War;  Elizabeth Matthews – Widows; Mary Peterkin – Deceased Members and Mark Buttery on behalf of the Brotherhood.  Geoff Swinnerton gave the oration.  Len Cook, bugler, played the Last Post and Reveille and Barry Parkin acted as Parade Marshall.

Many thanks to you all for your contribution.

This year’s service will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield on Saturday 8th September 2018 at 12.30pm (not 11.30am as previously advertised) in the Greek Grove, or if wet, in the Chapel. As in previous years, arrangements will be made for a buffet lunch after the service to be held locally. In addition, some of us use the opportunity to meet up and make a weekend of it, staying at nearby hotel. Please email us at greekveterans@gmail.com if you would like more information.

The 77th anniversary and UK Reunion  of the 1941 Greek campaign will  be held in the Greek Grove at the National Memorial Arboretum Saturday 8th September 2018. Further details will be published nearer the time.