During the Gallipoli campaign in World War I, the Greek island of Lemnos played a significant role as a staging area and base of operations for the Allied forces, including the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).
Lemnos was chosen as the main base for because of its strategic location at the entrance to the Dardanelles and its large deep harbor.
The Greek government led by Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos offered the Allies the use of Lemnos as a naval base and offered three divisions of Greek troops to help the Allies capture the Gallipoli peninsula.
Lemnos’ important role in the Gallipoli campaign for ANZAC troops
Lemnos served as a crucial logistical hub and a place for troops to rest and prepare before landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula, where the first major battle undertaken by ANZAC, and is often considered to have marked the birth of national consciousness in both countries.
Over 3,000 soldiers arrived in March 1915, using the island as a base to prepare and train for the upcoming landings at Gallipoli.
The island provided facilities for troop accommodation, medical care, supply depots, and communication centers. Lemnos also served as a base for naval operations supporting the landings at Gallipoli. Additionally, it served as a place for the assembly and training of troops before they were deployed to the front lines.
Field hospitals were set up to treat the wounded ANZAC soldiers evacuated from Gallipoli. The care provided by medical staff and the local Greek population was a welcome respite for those who endured the horrors of the campaign.
For years, Greek-Australians as well as Australian politicians and military officials have been making great efforts for the Greek island of Lemnos to be included in the celebrations of Anzac Day. Lemnos is in the northern part of the Aegean Sea.
Remembrance Trail on Lemnos
Finally, in 2023, Greece and Australia agreed to create a Remembrance Trail on Lemnos in honor of the Australian troops killed in World War I.
The Australian Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh has confirmed a pledge announced the year before by former PM Scott Morrison of an A$4.9 million ($3.28 million) commitment towards the Lemnos Remembrance Trail.
“The history of Lemnos in the First World War is of significance to both Australians and Greeks, and we have been working closely with the Greek authorities to make this important project possible,” Keogh said.
Keogh also paid tribute to the sacrifice and dedication of the nurses and doctors who ran this important hospital base out of little more than tents and shacks.
New documentary on Lemnos and the Gallipoli campaign
A new film about Lemnos and its role in the Gallipoli Campaign premieres on Australian TV at prime time on Anzac Day, 25 April 2024.
The one-hour documentary, titled Anzac. Lemnos. 1915., features rare archival photographs and fascinating first-hand accounts, supported by contemporary views of the island and expert commentary.
For the first time, with rare photo archives and compelling personal accounts, this unique documentary explores a little-known setting during Australia’s first war that was crucial in the shaping of Australia’s modern identity, with fascinating new themes.
As Royal Australian Navy historian, John Perryman says, “No Lemnos, no Gallipoli.”
Related: Anzac Day: When Australians and New Zealanders Fought for Greece
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