Post by melbkiwi on Apr 6, 2016 14:40:59 GMT 12
I have another general request to all members.
The German military invaded the Island of Crete during WWII. During that campaign a platoon of NZ soldiers under the command of a Capt. Ryan saved the King of Greece and his entourage from being captured by the Germans by escorting them across the mountains of Crete to a waiting British submarine. My uncle was a member of that platoon. They were chased from village to village in the process of escaping and at each village protected by those villagers and in some cases at the expense of their own lives.
Does anyone have the details of this escape...in particular the names of the villages etc. I have planned a visit to the Island in July this year and would like to pay my respects to these brave people (and their ancestors) because without their co-operation and their sacrifice my much loved family member and his platoon would not have returned home to NZ.
P.S for those of you interested...there is a 7min movie on Youtube recognising this campaign...just dial up NZ Soldiers Crete Campaign.
The German military invaded the Island of Crete during WWII. During that campaign a platoon of NZ soldiers under the command of a Capt. Ryan saved the King of Greece and his entourage from being captured by the Germans by escorting them across the mountains of Crete to a waiting British submarine. My uncle was a member of that platoon. They were chased from village to village in the process of escaping and at each village protected by those villagers and in some cases at the expense of their own lives.
Does anyone have the details of this escape...in particular the names of the villages etc. I have planned a visit to the Island in July this year and would like to pay my respects to these brave people (and their ancestors) because without their co-operation and their sacrifice my much loved family member and his platoon would not have returned home to NZ.
P.S for those of you interested...there is a 7min movie on Youtube recognising this campaign...just dial up NZ Soldiers Crete Campaign.