Hellenic Memorial, Canberra facts for kids
The Hellenic (Greek) Memorial is a special place on Anzac Parade in Canberra, Australia. It's right next to the Australian War Memorial. This memorial helps us remember the brave soldiers and people who were part of important events in Greece during World War II.
On April 6, 1941, soldiers from the 6th Division of the Australian Army joined other Allied forces. They were trying to stop German troops from advancing into mainland Greece. Most of the Allied soldiers were from Australia and New Zealand. However, they were greatly outnumbered on the ground, and the German forces controlled the skies. This meant the campaign became a difficult 'fighting withdrawal'.
Many Australian soldiers who were evacuated from mainland Greece went to Crete. There, they fought alongside British, New Zealand, and Greek troops in the Battle of Crete. Sadly, this battle was not successful for the Allies. More than 5,000 Australian soldiers became prisoners of war during these campaigns in Greece and Crete.
This memorial honors everyone who fought and died in these Greek campaigns. This includes members of the Royal Australian Navy and the Merchant Marine who fought in the Mediterranean Sea. It also remembers the Royal Australian Air Force and Nursing Services, Special Covert Forces, other Allied service members, and Greek civilians. These brave Greek civilians helped many soldiers find safety.
The memorial was officially opened on May 21, 1988. It was dedicated by Bob Hawke, who was the Prime Minister of Australia at the time, and Mr. Ioannis Charalambopoulos, the Deputy Prime Minister of Greece.
What the Memorial Looks Like
The Hellenic Memorial is made of marble and looks like an Ancient Greek theatre. It's surrounded by olive trees and Cyprus pines.
Key Features of the Design
The memorial has a Doric column. This type of column is very old and represents the start of civilization. The column also has the cross of the Greek Orthodox Church carved into it, which reminds us of a soldier's grave.
The column stands on a beautiful mosaic pavement. This mosaic shows the rough coastlines and battlefields of Greece, with its many peninsulas and islands. The design was created by Mary Hall.
There are also damaged steel pieces in the design. These pieces show how useless and destructive war can be. Together with the column, they look like old buried items from past civilizations and conflicts. The architectural firm Ancher, Mortlock and Woolley Pty Ltd designed the memorial.
Other Important Parts
Behind the main memorial, there is a special memorial tree. It was planted on April 28, 1991. The Deputy Prime Ministers of Greece and Australia, The Hon. Tzannis Tzannetakis and The Hon. Paul Keating, planted it. They did this to mark 50 years since the battles on mainland Greece and Crete.
