Battle of Crete Ceremony
The 69th anniversary of the Battle of Crete was marked by a wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial in Wellington, attended by veterans of Crete, dignitaries, politicians, members of the Cretan community, and military personnel on Thursday 20 May.
Cretan children
The ceremony began with the mounting of the Royal New Zealand Air Force catafalque guard and arrival of the official guests in the Hall of Memories.
Rear Admiral David Ledson delivered the prologue saying during the Battle of Crete New Zealand and Australian soldiers stood alongside each other in the Mediterranean, many miles from their homes in the Pacific. He also paid homage to the huge role played by the people of Crete who resisted the Germans and supported the Allied troops. “The strongest bonds between people come from shared emotional experiences. We commemorate the sacrifices of soldiers, sailors and citizens in the defence of Crete, and we celebrate, especially, the respect and friendship between the people of New Zealand and Crete that has grown out of those terrible days of World War II.”
Warrant Officer Jerald Twomey delivered the ode in Maori and Air Vice-Marshal Robin Klitscher delivered the ode in English. The national anthems of New Zealand and Greece were played by the RNZAF Brass Ensemble. Children from the Cretan community then offered attendees poppies to lay on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.