A Love Story that Began During WW2

An unknown Greek- Australian love story that began in the midst of the War in 1940, was released these past days by the Australian press.

Xanthoula Papadopoulou a 14-year old Greek girl, met Australian Sergeant, Herbert Wrigley who fought with the Australian forces in Macedonia when he was arrested by the Germans. However, he managed to escape and fled to the village Retini, where he found protection in the house of teacher John Papadopoulos, later arrested by the Gestapo and executed by the Germans. Herbert Wrigley was a tall impressive man who took part in the resistance struggle of the Greeks, and in 1943 fled to Turkey from where he returned to Australia.

Xanthoula Papadopoulou continued her life and was learning English, and in 1949, as she was looking at some old photos, she found a paper the name and address of Herbert Wrigley. Her mother urged her to write to him, wanting to know how he had been doing. The Australian man remembered the very beautiful Greek young lady, and invited her to Australia; the invitation was accepted by the then 24-year girl.

Five weeks after her arrival in Australia they were married in a Greek church. “To honor your mother and your grandfather” Herbert said. They had two children, John and Michael. Herbert learned Greek, a language that was very helpful to him as he worked in the Federal police Department.

Xanthoula visited Greece regularly with the children, but ultimately Herbert and Australia had won her heart. They were married for 45 years when in 1995, at the age of 75 Herbert died. Xanthoula says of her late husband: “He was captured by the Germans for a while but Herbert captured my heart forever.”

According to the president of the Greek Annex of Australians Veterans (RSL), Steve Kyritsis, during the Second World War, 17,000 Australians fought in Greece and 840 Australians died in the battle and were buried in Greece .