Acknowledgements

As ever, the author of a work such as this owes more to others than the finished product suggests. The biggest debt goes to the veterans — Australians, Greeks, and New Zealanders — who freely gave their time in interviews. Their generosity has given this book a human and intimate character that no study which relied on archives and secondary sources could ever hope to replicate. To them and to their comrades, this book is dedicated. As their stories suggest, we shall never see their like again.

Many others helped in myriad ways, not least Meg Smith, with accommodation and encouragement; John Rainford, through his networking in Western Australia; Ian Reilly, for a particularly useful insight about New Zealand military history; David Joliffe and the staff at the Australian War Memorial, with their friendly and professional advice; Fred Milligan of 27 NZ MG Battalion Association, with contacts and goodwill; George Zangalis, through his intimate knowledge of Melbourne’s Greek community; and Peter Stamatopoulos, of the Greek Resistance Fighters’ Association, for introductions and translating.

This revised anniversary edition owes much to the enthusiastic response of the Greek and Cretan communities to the first. Dina Gerolymou’s pursuit of a campaign medal for the Anzac veterans has been an inspiration to me, as has the support and interest of other members of the Greek and Cretan communities, especially Tony Tsourdalakis, the President of the Pancretan Association of Melbourne. Finally, the Greek community has a firm friend in journalist Mike Sweet, who has led the process of installing a memorial at 42nd Street, and remains active in researching the life of the amazing Aboriginal soldier Reg Saunders. To Mike, I offer a special thanks.