By Cr Christina Sirakoff

The first official Lemnos Gallipoli Anzac Day Service was held today (21st April 2022) at the Lemnos Square, Albert Park. The commemoration of the critical role that Lemnos played in Australia’s participation in the Gallipoli campaign during WWI began with four members of the Presidential Greek Guards marching into Lemnos Square and to then flank the Lemnos Gallipoli Memorial for the duration of the service.

The event was attended by many including State and Federal dignitaries (Ms Nina Taylor MP, The Hon David Davis MP, Mr Steve Dimopoulos MP), President and Members of the Lemnos Gallipoli Commemorative Committee (Mr Lee Tarlamis OAM MP and MC Christina Despoteris, Mr Jim Claven), The Consul-General of Greece in Melbourne, Mr Emmanuel S Kakavelakis, Mr Peter Corlett OAM (memorial sculpture) and representatives from the military sectors and councillors from other LGAs. I was proud to lay a wreath on behalf of the City of Port Phillip on this moving and significant occasion.

The Australian Defence Force’s campaign in Gallipoli in the First World War has long been recognised as a significant part of Australian history. What has not been sufficiently recognised is the critical role the nearby Island of Lemnos played in the Gallipoli campaign, and the specific Australian aspects of this involvement. Lemnos’ role in Australia’s ANZAC legend should not be forgotten:

• Lemnos island Greece was the principal assembly, embarkation, and supply point for the Gallipoli landings.
• The landings at Gallipoli were practiced on Lemnos prior to their deployment at Gallipoli and the islands’ harbour was a major staging post for naval operations in the Gallipoli campaign, including Australia’s AE2 submarine campaign.
• Most Anzac troops spent time on Lemnos – whether preparing for the landing, resting or recuperating at its rest camps or recovering from the horrors of war in its field hospitals.
• Lemnos was the location of the major nursing stations for the Gallipoli campaign, with 130 Australian nurses, led by Matron Grace Wilson - the first major overseas deployment of Australian Nurses to a war theatre.
• The recently formed Australian Red Cross Society was represented on the Island, through its aid depot and in the distribution of aid parcels to nurses and soldiers.
• Several major Australian military figures visited and were photographed on the island, such as Albert Jacka VC and Generals Birdwood and Monash.
• The armistice concerning the allies and the Ottoman Empire was signed on board HMS Agamemnon in Mudros Harbour, Lemnos in 1918. 
• Lemnos is the location of two major but under-recognised Commonwealth War Graves, with 148 Australian graves.

The statue by Mr Peter Corlett (pictured above) features an Australian nurse on Lemnos, with a wounded Anzac soldier is reflective of the Lemnian earth and motifs, evoking classical Greece. 

Source: Lemnos-Gallipoli-Memorial.pdf (archive.vic.gov.au)