The Battle of Crete

The Crete campaign, code named ‘Operation Mercury’ or ‘Merkur’ by the Germans, was ferocious and lasted ten days, from 20th to 30th May 1941. Unlike the campaign on the Greek mainland, the Allies outnumbered the Germans on Crete, having deployed 31,200 troops to the island, in addition to the 25,000 soldiers sent by the Greeks and the original garrison of 5,300 troops stationed on the island, bringing the total to 61,800. The Germans however had only sent 23,000 troops, mainly paratroopers to Crete, having underestimated the strength of their opponents. They had also misread the response of the local people and were surprised by the fierce resistance of the Cretans, who used any means at their disposal to defend their island from the invaders.

The Battle of Greece

The Greek campaign, codenamed ‘Operation Marita’ by the Germans, commenced on 6 April 1941, when the Germans simultaneously attacked Greece through Bulgaria and Yugoslavia in a pincer movement designed to encircle the Greek troops fighting the Italians on the Albanian front, as a result of Italy’s declaration of war on Greece on 28 October 1940.

Naval Battle of Matapan. 29 March 1941

The Battle of Matapan took place o the Western coast of Crete on 29th March 1941 and involved the Australian ships HMAS Perth and HMAS Stuart .Under the command of Vice Admiral Pridham-Wippell, the cruisers HMAS Perth, HMS Orion, HMS Aajax, and HMS Gloucester, then patrolling in the Aegean Sea, was ordered to a point off Gavdos Island south of Crete to protect troop convoys bound for Greece, from attacks by the Italian Navy.

Naval Battle of Cape Spada. 19 July 1940

On 18 July 1940, HMAS Sydney captained by John Collins sailed from Alexandria in company with the destroyer HMS Havock bound for the Gulf of Athens. Together they had orders to support an allied flotilla consisting of HMS Hyperion, Hero, Hasty and Ilex in the Aegean Sea. They were to intercept any Italian shipping sailing east to west along the north coast of the island of Crete.

SUDA BAY WAR CEMETERY

Suda Bay War Cemetery is located approximately 5 km east from the centre of Chania (Xania). From Chania follow the Suda Boulevard road for approximately 4 km until you arrive at the junction of Ellis and then turn left following the signs for the Airport and Vlite. Proceed for around 200 metres along this road until you arrive at the junction of Mavridaki Street. Turn left onto Mavridaki Street and follow this road for 400 metres until you come to the CWGC sign on the right hand side. Proceed for a further 100 metres and turn right at the next CWGC sign. The cemetery is in an olive grove.

RHODES WAR CEMETERY

Rhodes War Cemetery is in the southern outskirts of the town of Rhodes, on the west side of the old coastal road to Lindos. The cemetery is located on Kallithea Avenue opposite the Italian, Jewish and Turkish cemeteries and next to the archaeological site of Korakonero.

PHALERON WAR CEMETERY

Phaleron War Cemetery lies a few kilometres to the south-east of Athens, at the boundary between old Phaleron district and Alimos-Kalamaki district, on the coast road from Athens to Vouliagmeni.

The easiest means of reaching the cemetery is by the coastal tram, which takes about 35 minutes from the terminus at Syntagma Square on route 5 (Platon) towards Voula. Alight at Pikrodafni, a stop about 100 metres after the cemetery, from where it can be easily seen. The Athens Memorial stands in the cemetery.

ATHENS MEMORIAL

The ATHENS MEMORIAL stands within Phaleron War Cemetery and commemorates nearly 3,000 members of the land forces of the Commonwealth who lost their lives during the campaigns in Greece and Crete in 1941 and 1944-1945, in the Dodecanese Islands in 1943-1945 and in Yugoslavia in 1943-1945, and who have no known grave.

SAWERS, DENNIS CAMPBELL

RANK: Driver | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Army Service Corps

SERVICE NUMBER: 1333 | UNIT: N/A

AGE: 24 | † DATE OF DEATH: 27/5/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 14.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of John Campbell Sawers and of Mary Ursula Sawers (Nee Mckenzie), of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1316

SCOTT, HERBERT FREDERICK

RANK: Serjeant | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: 2609 | UNIT: 18th Bn.

AGE: 32 | † DATE OF DEATH: 25/5/41

CEMETERY: Suda Bay War Cemetery, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: 12. A. 10.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Herbert Scott and of Merrion Scott (Nee Mcinnes), of Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1324

SEQUE, CLIFFORD JOHN

RANK: Corporal | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: 10697 | UNIT: N/A

AGE: 22 | † DATE OF DEATH: 22/5/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 13.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Roderick William Seque and of Alma Seque (Nee Pine), of Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1332

SHAW, DOUGLAS ROBERT

RANK: Lance Corporal | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: 2906 | UNIT: N/A

AGE: 26 | † DATE OF DEATH: 25/5/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 13.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of John and Gladys Vera Shaw, and Stepson of Mr. H. L. Barnes, of Clevedon, Auckland, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1340

SHIPTON, ARTHUR

RANK: Private | SERVICE/REGIMENT: Australian Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: NX9765 | UNIT: A.I.F. 2/1 Bn.

AGE: 29 | † DATE OF DEATH: 20/5/41

CEMETERY: Suda Bay War Cemetery, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: 1. B. 12.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of George Charles and Alice Shipton; Husband of Ruby Irene Shipton, of Neutral Bay, New, South Wales, Australia.

Site Asset ID: AN1348

SIMPSON, NEIL MATHIES

RANK: Private | SERVICE/REGIMENT: Australian Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: VX26346 | UNIT: A.I.F. 2/1 Aust. M.G. Bn.

AGE: 37 | † DATE OF DEATH: 24/5/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 12.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Robert and Isabella Simpson, of Gourock, Renfrewshire, Scotland.

Site Asset ID: AN1356

SKEEN, BRUCE

RANK: Serjeant | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: 6750 | UNIT: N/A

AGE: 33 | † DATE OF DEATH: 22/5/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 13.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Wilson Skeen and of Minnie Skeen (Nee Egan), of Wanganui, Wellington, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1364

SMITH, ALEXANDER JOSEPH PENTLAND

RANK: Private | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: 11493 | UNIT: N/A

AGE: 28 | † DATE OF DEATH: 20/5/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 14.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Joseph Pentland Smith and Mary Ellen Smith; Husband of Gertrude Elizabeth Smith, of Ngatimoti, Nelson, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1372

SMITH, JACK VOSS

RANK: Private | SERVICE/REGIMENT: Australian Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: VX3811 | UNIT: A.I.F. 2/6 Bn.

AGE: 27 | † DATE OF DEATH: 26/4/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 11.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Fergus Voss Smith and Mina Florence Smith, of Toorak, Victoria, Australia.

Site Asset ID: AN1380

SMITH, VICTOR ROGER

RANK: Private | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Infantry

SERVICE NUMBER: 37211 | UNIT: 25th Bn.

AGE: 23 | † DATE OF DEATH: 24/4/41

CEMETERY: Phaleron War Cemetery, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: 8. E. 7.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Richard George Smith, and of Ruby Myrtle Smith (Nee Rogers), of Woodville, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1388

SOUTAR, DOUGLAS

RANK: Sapper | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Engineers

SERVICE NUMBER: 21870 | UNIT: N/A

AGE: 23 | † DATE OF DEATH: 26/5/41

CEMETERY: Suda Bay War Cemetery, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: 2. E. 13.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of David Alexander Soutar and of May Eilleen Soutar (Nee Burton), of Taita, Wellington, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1396

SPILLANE, FRANCIS EDWARD

RANK: Private | SERVICE/REGIMENT: New Zealand Medical Corps

SERVICE NUMBER: 13449 | UNIT: N/A

AGE: 22 | † DATE OF DEATH: 27/4/41

CEMETERY: Athens Memorial, GREECE | GRAVE REFERENCE: Face 14.

Honours/Awards: N/A

Additional Information:

Son of Augustine and Frances Spillane, of Temuka, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Site Asset ID: AN1404