68th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete

A commemoration ceremony for the 68th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete was held in Canberra with the Minister of Veteran Affairs, the Honourable Alan Griffin, MP, and Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, AC AFC, in attendance.

The service began with a Catafalque Party being mounted by Lance Corporal Kennedy of Australia’s Federation Guard. The Catafalque Party consisted of four sailors, soldiers and airmen providing a guard around the Crete Memorial on ANZAC Parade in Canberra.

The Honourable Alan Griffin, the Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic, Georgios Zois and the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Konstantinos Kalamatas were among those who addressed the crowd.  

After the parade, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston took time to speak to the Northern Territories Army Cadets group, who were visiting Canberra. He also took time to pose for photographs with the group before leaving.   

The Battle of Crete occurred in May 1941 during the Second World War. Approximately 25,000 soldiers from Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Greece defended the Island of Crete from attacking the German Army.

841 Australian soldiers lost their lives during the battle, with an additional 3,000 becoming prisoners of war.


68th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete68th Anniversary of the Battle of Crete
Site built by Educational Technology Services UNSW@ADFA