For those who fought, for peace

(photo Struma cemetery, Greece)

I am somewhat disappointed that to my knowledge there is no Remembrance Day Services in our location today.

Commonwealth forces fought in Greece during both world wars leaving behind more than 18,000 dead. Some of the Commonwealth cemeteries in Greece contain burials of both world wars, the majority of war cemeteries are around the Thessaloniki area.

WWI
After the landing in October 1915 Allied forces pushed along the Vardar valley into Serbia but were then compelled to retire to Salonika (now Thessaloniki) which was held as a fortified camp for a year. An Allied offensive in the second half of 1916 established a line running from Monastir to the
Gulf of Strimonikos, the British force holding the sector eastward from Doiran. This was to remain the Allied line until 15 September 1918 when the decisive break-out to the north led to the surrender of Bulgaria a fortnight later.

WWII
Italian troops invaded Greece in October 1940 but within weeks had been driven back by Greek forces. The Italian counter-attack of March 1941 also failed and Germany was forced to come to the aid of her ally. On 6 April 1941, German troops invaded Greece through Bulgaria. Although
the combined Greek and Commonwealth force (which had arrived from North Africa on 7 March) fought with great tenacity it was vastly outnumbered. Within 24 days Athens had fallen and the campaign was over, but not before some 50,000 Commonwealth troops were evacuated. More than 20,000 of them joined comrades that had been on Crete since November 1940.
On 20 May 1941 the Germans launched an airborne attack on Crete. Despite some early successes and stiff opposition, by 31 May the Commonwealth force was overcome. Of the
total land force of 32,000 men, 18,000 were successfully evacuated, 12,000 were taken prisoner and 2,000 were killed.

Whilst I attend the Remembrance Service for the Battle of Kalamata. which is gratefully supported by the local authorities, even this had to be instigated by an expat.

Come Greece, today more than ever remember your European and the cost of your freedom....