Seventy-Five Years on – Courage And Sacrifice Remembered 23 May 2016
Related articles
- NZ More Interested in All Whites than All Blacks Sport
- Australia Jumping on the Boy Bandwagon Living
- NZ hosts nuclear non-proliferation meeting News
- All Whites claim historic point Sport
- Prime Minister to travel to South Africa News
- Brownlee Leads Aviation Mission To Shanghai News
- New Zealand-Russia begin FTA scoping discussions News
- NZ looking at all avenues on whaling issue News
- Sludge Report #192: The Naked Budget Columns
- Navy takes delivery of HMNZS Wellington News
21 May 2016
Crete
Seventy-Five Years on – Courage And Sacrifice Remembered at CWGC Suda Bay War Cemetery, Crete
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of one the fiercest and most desperate struggles of the Second World War – the Battle of Crete.
In a ceremony this Saturday (21st May) at the beautiful CWGC Suda Bay War Cemetery, veterans will pay tribute to their comrades in the Commonwealth and Greek forces who lost their lives in the 12 day struggle to fight off a huge German airborne assault.
The Germans suffered appalling casualties but managed to gain a foothold on the island and eventually forced the Allies to evacuate to Egypt. The cost of the Battle for Crete was high. More than 3,500 Commonwealth servicemen and women lost their lives – more than 1,500 of whom are buried at Suda Bay.
Veterans of the battle will be welcomed to the event by His Excellency Sir Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General of New Zealand, The Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, The UK Secretary of State for Defence and Mrs Victoria Wallace, CWGC Director General. They will also unveil an interpretive panel ahead of the commemorations that uses smartphone technology to tell the stories of some of those commemorated in the cemetery.
The panels at Suda Bay are part of a global initiative by the CWGC to encourage greater numbers of visitors to the war cemeteries and to help visitors understand the importance of such places.
One of the stories revealed is that of New Zealander, Staff Serjeant Dudley Churchill Perkins. He was among more than 12,000 Commonwealth servicemen captured when Crete fell but managed to escape.
Aided by local Cretans, Dudley and several others managed to remain at large on the island until June 1942 when they left the island by submarine with a Special Boat Service raiding party.
In April 1943 he was transferred to Force 133 of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and returned to Crete to aid the partisans. He took part in a number of raids and partisan activities disrupting the German and Italian occupation of Crete until his death in February 1944.
Dudley was originally buried in the village of Lakkoi but was reburied in this cemetery in September 1945 by an Australian War Graves unit.
CWGC Director General, Mrs Victoria Wallace said: “At the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Suda Bay War Cemetery there are over 1,500 stories of men who died far from home; whether home was in Australia or Canada, New Zealand, South Africa or India, or in Britain. Today they are commemorated here equally, side by side, irrespective of rank, religion or race. The mission of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is to commemorate these brave men and women, in perpetuity. We will remember them, and ensure that their final resting places are always worthy of their sacrifice.
The dark story of the Battle of Crete is perhaps not now familiar to all those who come to this beautiful, sun lit island. The landings by German paratroopers; the desperate efforts by troops and their Greek allies to hold back the invaders; and of course the bitter experiences of the people living here during the occupation; it’s a story we should never forget.”
ENDS
News
Hilary Timmins' Award-Winning UK Documentary Series To Inspire NZ Students
29 Jun 2020 Education
Dream Catchers, produced and directed by Hilary Timmins, celebrates the success stories of more than thirty inspirational New... more
New Zealand reaffirms support for Flight MH17 judicial process
7 Mar 2020 News
Ahead of the start of the criminal trial in the Netherlands on 9 March, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has reaffirmed the need to... more
Business
NZ Government's Economic package to fight COVID-19
17 Mar 2020 Business News
The Coalition Government has launched the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history to cushion the... more
NZ Government announces aviation relief package
19 Mar 2020 Business News
Transport Minister Phil Twyford today outlined the first tranche of the $600 million aviation sector relief package announced earlier... more
Living
Diversity was Key at New Zealand Trade Tasting in London
6 Jun 2022 Food & Wine
New Zealand Winegrowers Annual Trade Tasting was recently held in London, on Wednesday 4 May, in Lindley Hall.
It was the first... more
Kiwi author stuns Behind the Butterfly Gate
12 Jan 2022 Arts
Hidden behind the Butterfly Gate is where the secret has been kept for 76 years...
New Zealand writer Merryn Corcoran’s... more
Property
Fairer rules for tenants and landlords
17 Nov 2019 Property
17 NOVEMBER 2019
The Government has delivered on its promise to the over one million New Zealanders who now rent to make it fairer... more
New Zealand Government will not implement a Capital Gains Tax
17 Apr 2019 Property
The Coalition Government will not proceed with the Tax Working Group’s recommendation for a capital gains tax, Jacinda Ardern... more
Migration
Boosting border security with electronic travel authority – now over 500,000 issued
19 Nov 2019 Migration
19 NOVEMBER 2019
We’ve improved border security with the NZeTA, New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority, which helps us to... more
Christchurch reinstated as refugee settlement location
18 Aug 2018 Migration
18 AUGUST 2018
HON IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY
The announcement that Christchurch can once again be a settlement location for refugees... more
Travel
Gallipoli Anzac Day services cancelled
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
The New Zealand and Australian Governments have announced this year’s joint Anzac Day services at Gallipoli will be cancelled... more
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
19 Mar 2020 Travel & Tourism
New Zealanders advised not to travel overseas
more
Sport
The Skipper's Diary: Sir Richard Hadlee honouring his father and NZ's Forty-Niners
27 Oct 2019 Cricket
NZNewsUK London Editor Charlotte Everett spoke to Sir Richard Hadlee about why he’s chosen to publish his father’s... more
PREVIEW: All Blacks v England semi-final
26 Oct 2019 Rugby
The two most convincing quarterfinals winners are set to square off in a semifinal showdown for the ages when the All Blacks meet old... more
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
11 Nov 2016 Opinion
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
First published on Werewolf
The ghastly likes of Marine Le Pen in France and Geert ... more
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
10 Nov 2016 Opinion
Column - Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell on the US election outcome
Well um.. on the bright side, there (probably)... more
Kiwi Success
Congratulations to Loder Cup winner
26 Sep 2018 People
25 SEPTEMBER 2018
The Loder Cup, one of New Zealand’s oldest conservation awards, has been awarded to Robert McGowan for 2018... more
Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
16 Aug 2018 Appointments
16 AUGUST 2018Appointments to New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO
HON JENNY SALESA
Associate Education Minister Jenny Salesa is... more
Recruitment
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
14 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more
Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
22 Aug 2018 Recruitment
14 AUGUST 2018Historic pay equity settlement for education support workers
RT HON JACINDA ARDERN
HON CHRIS HIPKINS
Prime Minister
The... more