An Academic Symposium to honor Australian World War II veterans, including those of Greek origin and others who fought the Battle of Crete and elsewhere in Greece will be hosted by the New South Wales Parliament on Dec. 6.
The event was organized by Greek Historian Maria Hill, who said the role of Australians in WWII has been overlooked. “Thousands of Australians were sent to fight the Nazis in Greece and Crete in a campaign that was a debacle, even though our soldiers fought bravel,” she said.
She referred to the battle on Crete where German and Italian forces captured 6.200 Australians. Oswald Pierce, 92 years old now, took part in the failed campaign. He was awarded a medal from the Greek government for his role on the recommendation of British Field Marshal Henry Maitland Wilson.
These soldiers have come to be known as the “forgotten Anzacs” and according to the report there are 18 who are still alive today. Hill has written the book Diggers and Greeks supporting the soldiers’ efforts and asking for them to be recognized. Almost a million Australians, both men and women, served in WWI.
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