Presentation of medals to WWII veteran
Jenny Cotton CSC, Deputy Commissioner Victoria, recounts her meeting with Mr Norman Maddock at the commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the Battle of Crete.
At the commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the Battle of Crete earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Norman Maddock, one of the remaining survivors of the famous battle. Norm is 96 years of age. He enlisted in the Australian Army at the age of 18 and served in the 2nd/7th Australian Infantry Battalion. He became a prisoner of war for a time on Crete.
Mr Norman Maddock and Jenny Cotton CSC, Deputy Commissioner Victoria
During our conversation I discovered Norm’s medals had unfortunately been stolen from his home.
Following discussions with the Department of Defence, replacement Australian Defence Force (ADF) Second World War medals were arranged and kindly mounted free of charge by Berwick Military Medals.
The Greek Consul-General to Victoria, Mr Demetrios Michalopoulos, also kindly wrote to his government requesting that the original Battle of Crete and Prisoner of War medals be reissued for Norman.
On 3 October, at a small gathering with Norm and his wife Shirley, Mr Michalopoulos presented Norm with his Battle of Crete and Prisoner of War medals, while I had the pleasure of presenting him with his Second World War ADF medals.
It was wonderful to see Norm proudly wearing his medals at the Greece and Crete Anzac Reunion on Sunday 6 October at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. I would like to thank the ADF and the Greek Consulate-General for making this a very special occasion for him.
Living recipients of medals are entitled to one replacement set, under specific circumstances. Please visit the ‘Replacement Medals Policy’ page of the Department of Defence website for more information and how to apply.