COMMEMORATIVE LAST POST CEREMONY
MARKING THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE FOR CRETE
SATURDAY 20 MAY 2017 TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN WARRIOR PUKEAHU NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL PARK WELLINGTON THE BATTLE FOR CRETE
Seventy-six years ago this year, New Zealand troops took part in the 12- day Battle for Crete. This was one of the most dramatic and brutal battles our forces have ever endured.
The Mediterranean island had become a German target following their rapid occupation of the Greek mainland in April 1941. Crete was defended by more than 42,000 British, Commonwealth and Greek soldiers, under the command of Major-General Bernard Freyberg, who led the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
The battle began just after dawn on 20 May 1941. Many of the 7700 New Zealand soldiers on Crete were finishing breakfast when hundreds of German transport aircraft – some towing gliders – rumbled in over the island. The air above was suddenly filled with parachutes as thousands of elite German paratroops began to descend from the sky.
Despite suffering terrible casualties, the German parachutists and glider-borne troops managed to secure a foothold on the island, crucially capturing the airfield at Maleme on 21 May. Aided by fresh troop reinforcements and the dominance of the Luftwaffe (German air force) above Crete, the invaders eventually gained the upper hand. The battle ended with the evacuation of the bulk of the Allied force to Egypt. The soldiers left behind formally surrendered to the Germans on 1 June.
More than 2180 New Zealanders were taken prisoner and 671 died. Charles Upham and Alfred Hulme were each awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for their actions on Crete. Some New Zealanders took to the hills, and a few later escaped by submarine or fishing boat. With the help of Cretan civilians, a handful of men eluded capture on the island for years and took part in resistance fighting.
In total more than 1700 Allied soldiers were killed and 15,000 captured during the Battle for Crete. Operations around the island cost the Royal Navy three cruisers, six destroyers and the lives of more than 2000 sailors. More than 3000 Germans were killed and a similar number were wounded.
1 ORDER OF SERVICE
THE ARRIVAL Official guests are welcomed by Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd), Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council, and Brodie Stubbs, Manager Heritage Projects, Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Lieutenant General Konstantinos Floros, Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff and Mrs Anna Maria Tsikrikoni accompanied by Brigadier Christopher Parsons MNZM DSD, Deputy Chief of Army and Mrs Hayley Parsons
The Honourable David Bennett, Minister of Veterans’ Affairs
KARANGA Karanga by June Jackson MNZM, supported by Peter Jackson, Taranaki Whānui, as the official party moves to the head of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior
REMEMBRANCE BELL The Carillonist tolls Whakamaharatanga, the ‘Remembrance Bell’, four times
2 NATIONAL ANTHEMS The National Anthem of the Hellenic Republic (Greece) is sung by school children from the Wellington Greek community
The National Anthem of New Zealand is sung by Leading Aircraftsman Barbara Graham, RNZAF
PROLOGUE Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd), Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council delivers the prologue
PRAYERS FOR PEACE Prayers for Peace are delivered by: Chaplain Class 1 Anthony Hawes, RNZAF Principal Defence Chaplain
Reverend Amphilochios Vasiltsotelis, Cathedral of the Annunication
3 LAYING OF WREATHS The Honourable David Bennett Minister of Veterans’ Affairs on behalf of the Government and People of New Zealand
Lieutenant General Konstantinos Floros Deputy Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff on behalf of the Hellenic National Defence Force together with
Brigadier Christopher Parsons MNZM DSD Deputy Chief of Army on behalf of the New Zealand Defence Force
Councillor Chris Calvi Freeman on behalf of the City of Wellington
Philip Stratford on behalf of the New Zealand Battle of Crete Association
Theresa Schinke in memory of her great grandfather Josef Kirpal who fought in the Fallschimjager (German paratroopers)
George Neonakis President of the Cretan Association of New Zealand
Bob Hill National Vice President Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association on behalf of all Veterans and their families
4 COMMEMORATIVE LAST POST CEREMONY
The Commemorative Last Post Ceremony commences with sounding of The Still
THE LAST POST All uniformed personnel salute
The flags of the Hellenic Republic and New Zealand are fully lowered
THE ODE WOSCS Jack Rudolph recites The Ode in Te Reo Māori
E kore rātou e kaumātuatia Pēnei i a tātou kua mahue nei E kore hoki rātou e ngoikore Ahakoa pēhea I ngā āhuatanga o te wā I te hekenga atu o te rā Tae noa ki te aranga mai I tea ta Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou
Response: Ka maumahara tonu tātou ki a rātou
Bob Hill, Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association recites The Ode in English
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them
Response: We will remember them
ONE MINUTE SILENCE IS OBSERVED
5 DISMISSAL Rear Admiral David Ledson ONZM (Rtd), Chair, National War Memorial Advisory Council gives his closing remarks
COMPLETION OF CEREMONY AND DEPARTURE The Official Party move into the Hall of Memories where they are invited to sign the Visitors’ Book
The Official Party then moves to the departure point on Anzac Square
2nd NZEF soldiers resting in a village street in Crete Ref: DA-01157-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand.
6 Image on Front Cover New Zealand ambulance men attending to German paratroopers. Ref: DA-09598. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
This National Commemorative Service was arranged by the Visits and Ceremonial Office, Department of Internal Affairs, in partnership with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage, the New Zealand Defence Force, the New Zealand Battle of Crete Association and the Consulate of Greece - Wellington