GREECE: ALLIED WAR VETERANS COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF CRETE.

Record ID: 208321

  • Title: GREECE: ALLIED WAR VETERANS COMMEMORATE THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF CRETE.
  • Date: 20th May 2001
  • Summary: SOUDA BAY, CRETE, GREECE (MAY 19, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV: ALLIED FLAGS RAISED OVER SOUDA BAY CEMETERY 0.05 2. GV: ROWS OF GRAVESTONES OF DEAD SOLDIERS FROM BATTLE OF CRETE 0.11 3. GV: PEOPLE GATHERED AROUND MONUMENT 0.15 4. SV/PAN: GREEK PRESIDENT COSTIS STEPHANOPOULOS LAYS WREATH 0.28 5. SV/PAN: DUKE OF KENT LAYS WREATH 0.45 6. CU: (SOUNDBITE)(english) DUKE OF KENT SAYING: "It's been a very important anniversary we've had all these commemorations and ceremonies. Its very important we do this and don't forget." 0.53 7. SV: VETERANS ALL LAYING WREATHS AT MONUMENT 1.03 8. SV/CU: BRITISH VETERAN WILLIAM GREAVES, 82, FROM CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND, WHO FOUGHT IN BATTLE, LOOKING FOR HIS FRIENDS AMONG THE GRAVESTONES WITH HIS WIFE BETTY/ GRAVESTONES (2 SHOTS) 1.15 9. CU: (SOUNDBITE)(english) BRITISH VETERAN, WILLIAM GREAVES SAYING: "Its heartbreaking, I mean, young boys, 22 (YRS OLD), its unbelievable." 1.29 10. LV: WARSHIP HMS RICHMOND SENDING 21-GUN SALUTE (2 SHOTS) 1.40 GALATAS TOWN, NORTHERN CRETE, GREECE (MAY 19, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 11. GV: NEW ZEALAND VETERANS MARCHING WITH THEIR FLAG THROUGH TOWN AS BAGPIPER PLAYS 1.50 12. VARIOUS: NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER HELEN CLARK ENTERS TOWN AS MAORI WARRIORS PROTECT HER/ VIEW OF MEMORIAL/ HELEN CLARK WITH THE DUKE OF KENT (4 SHOTS) 2.19 13. MV: AUSTRALIAN VETERANS' AFFAIRS MINISTER BRUCE SCOTT, ADMIRAL SIR MICHAEL BOYCE, UK CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF, DUKE OF KENT AND CLARK 2.24 14. MV/SV: CLARK AND DUKE OF KENT/ SOLDIERS IN FRONT OF NEW ZEALAND MEMORIAL/ CLARK LAYS WREATH AT MEMORIAL (2 SHOTS) 2.47 15. CU: (SOUNDBITE)(English) NEW ZEALAND VETERAN, BERNIE DYNES, 82, FROM ASHBURTON, NEW ZEALAND, RECALLING THE BATTLE SAYING: "Daylight came and the Germans brought over the airforce and the airforce belted us out of it. We kept on fighting, and we had another battle here, a real scrap, and they retreated and we retreated, and I think they found out first, and they chased us off the island. 3.06 RETHYMNON, CRETE, GREECE (MAY 19, 2001) (REUTERS -ACCESS ALL) 16. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER HELEN CLARK SAYING: "The battle of Crete was short and catastrophic, and the New Zealand forces of the 7,700 here over half were either killed wounded or taken prisoner for the next four years in Germany so it was a traumatic and searing experience which affected many New Zealand families so we feel its important that we keep the memory alive." 3.27 17. CU/GV/MV: URN MADE OF MACHINE GUNS AND HELMETS IN FRONT OF AUSTRALIAN/GREEK MEMORIAL/ AUSTRALIAN VETERANS IN AUDIENCE/ GREEK BISHOPS BLESSING MEMORIAL (4 SHOTS) 3.49 18. MCU:(SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN VETERANS' AFFAIRS MINISTER, BRUCE SCOTT, SAYING: "Although made of stone and steel, this memorial we dedicate today is a living structure that will live on from now and forever, for it has been built not simply as a solemn testament to those men and women Australian and Greek alike who sixty years ago not only gave or honoured their lives in war." 4.12 19. GV: AUSTRALIAN TOURISTS AT CEREMONY 4.19 20. GV/LAS: SCOTT UNVEILING MEMORIAL/ CLOSE VIEW OF MEMORIAL (2 SHOTS) 4.45 21. SV/PAN: VETERANS LAY WREATH AT MEMORIAL 4.57 22. MCU: (SOUNDBITE)(English) AUSTRALIAN WAR VETERAN, CHARLIE PARROTT, 81 YRS OLD, SAYING: "Its terrific, I walked down the street this morning and in Chania, and found old Cretans that came up and grabbed a hold of me and the ladies that kept coming and kissing me, its fantastic to be back." 5.11 UNDISCLOSED LOCATION, MIDDLE EAST (FILE- 1941) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)(MONOCHROME) 23. VARIOUS: ALLIED TROOPS BEING INSPECTED FOR BATTLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, MAORI TROOPS INCLUDED BEFORE GOING TO CRETE (6 SHOTS) 5.37 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SOUDA BAY AND RETHYMNON, CRETE, GREECE
  • Country: Greece
  • Reuters ID: LVA3U9OGSED9XHG108HWS9GLU3MU
  • Story Text: Hundreds of war veterans from Britain, Australia and
    New Zealand have carried out a pilgrimage to Crete, to
    remember those that died in the famous battle to try and hold
    the island against invading German forces during World War
    II. It is the 60th anniversary of the battle, and Crete
    officially celebrates its memory for the last time.



    At the Allies war cemetery in Souda Bay the tombstones
    are a reminder of the some 4,000 Allied troops that died
    trying -- and failing -- to stop a German airborne invasion
    that caused the Allies to evacuate the island while others
    were taken prisoner.

    The Duke of Kent, who laid a wreath at the memorial and
    spoke with British veterans on Saturday (May 19), called it an
    important moment that should not be forgotten.

    Souda bay became the graveyard for Allied ships, at the
    mercy of air raids by the German Luftwaffe -- left behind was
    the blackened skeletons of frigates, steamships and other
    vessels, as forces protected the harbour from a German landing
    by sea.

    It all began on May 20, 1941 when German dive bombers and
    fighter planes attacked the island's north, the cities of
    Chania, Rethymnon and Iraklion, including Souda Bay, in
    history's first airborne invasion. The skies were suddenly a
    sea of German parachutists of the Luftwaffe, as thousands
    dropped into the awaiting fire of the allied soldiers on the
    ground. The Germans suffered an alarming casualty rate, some
    6,000 men were lost and an airborne invasion was never tried
    again.

    Now in their eighties veterans from all four countries
    prayed and sung hymns around the rows and rows of gravestones
    while off the coast HMS Richmond, from Britain's Royal Navy,
    gave a 21-gun salute.

    By June 1, 1941 the Germans had advanced to southern Crete
    and dominated the island. Sixteen thousand soldiers of the
    Allied forces were evacuated by sea to Egypt, leaving the
    local Cretans to endure another four years of occupation by
    the Germans. British warships were bombed by air, with
    cruisers and frigates destroyed or damaged.

    Earlier on Saturday New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen
    Clark, paid tribute to fallen New Zealand soldiers in the town
    of Galatas -- scene of fierce armed combat between German and
    New Zealand soldiers.

    A ceremony was attended by many veterans and the
    townspeople in front of a war memorial honouring the dead who
    defended the town.

    With fierce cries and carrying their traditional Taiaha
    weapon, the warriors challenge the enemy with their dance as
    they "protected" the prime minister. Maoris were part of the
    New Zealand contingents in Crete and used their war cries to
    rile the troops into action.

    About 671 New Zealand soldiers died in the battle of
    Crete, with hundreds wounded and thousands taken prisoner.

    Australian veterans were represented by a new memorial
    unveiled by Bruce Scott the Australian Minister for Veterans'
    Affairs in the northern coastal town of Rethymnon.

    A towering granite structure is a reminder of the 274
    Australians who fell trying to defend the town of Rethymnon
    and the rest of the island.

    The service again was attended by town locals, Australian
    tourists and relatives of veterans.

    Historians have poured criticism on the allies handling of
    the battle of Crete, many putting the failure down to a
    severe lack of communication between the command and their
    troops stationed around the island. Some call it a success
    attributing it to crippling Hitler's troops in such large
    numbers, just before his invasion of Russia.


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