New Battle of Crete memorial unveiled
On 11 May, a new war memorial commemorating the Second World War Battle of Crete was unveiled in Perth’s King Park.
The memorial honours the almost 800 Australians who were killed or wounded and more than 3,000 who were captured defending the Greek island, which German forces invaded in a massive parachute assault in May 1941.
While it was a major defeat for the Allied forces, many Australians escaped with the help of Greek civilians, who put themselves at great personal risk.
The memorial was unveiled by Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, Greece’s Ambassador to Australia Stavros Venizelos, the Battle of Crete Memorial Committee of WA, and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh.
‘One of those killed was 24-year-old stretcher bearer Private Laurence Colin Keogh, my great uncle,’ Minister Keogh said.
‘So many Australians and members of the Greek community have similar stories of family and friends lost in the battle, but it’s that battle that helped form the close friendship between our nations.’
Arthur Leggett, the oldest surviving veteran of the Battle of Crete, was present for the dedication ceremony. The 105-year-old veteran was taken captive by German paratroopers and spent more than 4 years as a prisoner of war.
The memorial itself was created by Smith Sculptors, a team that specialises in memorials and previously made the HMAS Sydney II memorial in Geraldton. The new monument is the first in Australia specifically dedicated to the battle and was jointly funded by the WA Government, the Anzac Day Trust grant program, and Lottery West.