We were very pleased that Father John was able to join us, once again, and take the service this year. We were also delighted to welcome, for the first time, Captain Alexandros Xanthouleas, HN, Greek Defence Attaché, accompanied by his wife and son. Plus, representing the British military, Major Ruth Cork, Royal Engineers, accompanied by her father and Cedar, a delightful cocker spaniel; and Major Ryan Morgan, Royal Tank Regiment.
Four standards were carried by the following ‘volunteers’: Richard Greville, Colin Pleavin, Peter Simpson and Ian Brown. Many thanks to them.
Janet Parkin gave a short welcome speech and reiterated, as always, how important it is not to forget the 1941 Greek Campaign and the sacrifices made.
Five wreaths were laid by the following: Captain Alexandros Xanthouleas, HN, Greek Defence Attaché; Buster Beckett in Memory of the Prisoners of War; Pat Beckett on behalf of the Widows; Mark Buttery in Memory of Deceased Members and Sara Joynes on behalf of the Brotherhood of Veterans of the 1941 Greek Campaign.
Barry Parkin gave the Oration and acted as Parade Marshall.
Barry Parkin also read out the address prepared by our Chairman, David Sanderson, who was unable to be with us this year:
“By way of a reminder, the Battle of Greece involved over one and a quarter million Axis forces (by which I mean Italian and German forces), against a combined Greek and Allied force of around 500,000. The German forces were not only larger, but they were also better equipped, and crucially had control over the skies. Britain had committed a force of approximately 60,000 personnel to Greece, made up principally of British, Australian and New Zealand troops, who arrived there in early 1941.
It was an ill-fated campaign. When Germany invaded Greece on 6 April 1941 the decision was soon taken to leave mainland Greece for Crete, and so a long journey started to the southern ports of Nauplia, Monevasia, Raffinia and Kalamata. This was a perilous retreat, and soon became another Dunkirk. The Navy did a magnificent job, getting away around 52,000 of the 60,000 or so of our forces. Unfortunately, around 8,000 men were left behind, many of whom were taken as POWs by the Germans to Stalag 18a in Wolfsberg, Austria.
As Janet mentioned, the Brotherhood was set up by her father in 1990. Edwin Horlington advertised in the National Press to find fellow veterans, and the idea of erecting a memorial in Kalamata was taken up. With contributions from veterans and with the support of Patrick Leigh Fermor as Patron, a memorial was unveiled in 1994, and an annual service in commemoration has been held in Greece ever since. A book entitled “Tell Them We Were Here” was published, containing accounts by veterans of their own experience in Greece. The Greek Grove in which we are now standing, was also established.
It is claimed that the Greek campaign was not a complete disaster. By committing some of his best divisions to Greece, Hitler delayed his planned invasion of Russia by six crucial weeks. That delay meant the Germans hit the Russian winter, which undoubtedly contributed hugely to a Russian victory on the Eastern Front.
I, for one, like to believe that that is true, and that our parents/grandparents did not go through what they did in vain.
It is very important that we remember the men who lost their lives, or who were badly injured doing what they were required to do for their country, and for our freedoms today.”
David normally mentions, in his annual address, a veteran to be especially remembered. This year he chose Trooper Ernie Chapman.
“Ernie was a former miner, who joined the 3rd Royal Tank Regiment – and whose experiences in Greece really ought to be made into a film.
Having already gone through evacuation from Dunkirk, he found himself involved in yet another retreat, this time in Greece. This time he was left stranded at the southern port of Tolon – and after being captured, he escaped not once, but four times.
After his initial imprisonment he was sent to a camp outside Thessalonika where he dug a tunnel some 30 metres long. Just before he was about to escape, he was told he was being moved to Germany. On the train journey he managed to jump from the train. He had several weeks on the run but was captured again by the Germans. Ernie by this time was in civilian clothing, which had serious consequences. The Germans wanted the names of the Greeks who had helped him. Ernie refused to give any information.
He was taken back to the same camp at Thessalonika and to his delight the tunnel hadn’t been discovered. Again, just before he could use it – he was put on a train to Germany.
He managed to escape again – but on jumping from the train Ernie dislocated a shoulder, and so, together with another escaper, he stayed at a village called Pili.
He stayed for many months and was eventually named Kiriakos by the villagers and given false identity papers. Unfortunately, he was captured again in spring 1943. This time he was treated very roughly, and placed in a rat infested solitary cell. He was again returned to the camp at Thessalonika and once again he found the tunnel he had dug had not been discovered. This time he was able to use it and, after escaping, he returned to the village of Pili where he met a Partisan who invited Ernie to join them. After spending a short time with them he decided to return to Pili but once again he was captured.
This time he was put on a train to Dachau – but again he managed to escape – by tricking a guard and jumping off the train into a river. It was now the summer of 1943. He decided to join the Partisans (Royalists).
There then followed a series of raids with the Partisans which were extremely dangerous but successful. They are too numerous to detail but you can read about them in the book ‘Kiriakos’ written by Don Turner.
In 1976 Ernie decided to make a sentimental journey to Greece with his wife Dot. He went to one of the villages where he had stayed, and asked a young policeman if he knew the family he was looking for. The policeman asked why he wanted to know, and Ernie admitted he had known them during the war. As soon as he told the policeman he had been known as Kiriakos, the villagers learnt of his visit – whereupon he was treated like royalty. The villagers offered to give him land and build a house in Piri for him but Ernie declined. “