War Service by Kytherian Australians

Kytherians at War

Greek Australian VEMA
TO BHMA 7/39
April 2002

ANZAC Day Feature

Compiled (with the help of many others) and edited by Ann Coward


No, this is not an article about feuding fami­lies. It is about Australian Greeks, in this instance all descendants of the island of Kythera (Cirigo), who served in the wars of the 20th Century. Some fought for Greece, but the majority for Australia.

During 2001, the Kytherian Association of Australia called on its members, living pre­dominantly in NSW, to help compile a list of all Australian-Kytherians who fought in the wars of the 20th Century. The following arti­cle is derived from the information received so far, with a special thank you to Mr Emanuel Cassimatis. (Many Kytherians. settled in Queensland. However the information collected to date has concentrated on NSW.)

The Vema would like to incourage all Associations and Brotherhoods around Australia to compile similar list as this is an important part of our Australian-Greek histoty.

Balkan Wars

Several men, upon returning to Greece (per­haps to find a bride, or to visit parents) were caught up in the Balkan Wars. These include

Nick Peter Comino of Warialda
Minas Crethar (?) of Ballina
Panayioti Charles Sourty of Armidale

World War I

Minas Crethat (mentioned above) served as an interpreter on the staff of Vice Admiral Kerr at Salonica for the duration of the War, earning a commendation.
Panaiotis Kepreotes was visiting Greece when War broke out, but returned to Australia once again, having served.

World War II

The largest poup of Australian-Kytherians, some born. in Greece, many in Australia, fought for Australia during the Second World War. Most.were country boys.

Those who lost thèir life during battle, include

Peter Tambakis of Crookwell. Serving in the army, be was killed in the Battle for Bardia, North Africa in 1941.

John (Jack) Peter Comino who served in the army, died as a Prisoner of War, aged 25 years, and was buricd in Tarsao Cemetery, in Thailand. These
graves, were later transferred to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in Thailand. John, who had 5 brothers and one sister was captured by the Japanese when
they invaded Singapore

Spiro (Bill) Geñgos of Moree, serving in the RAAF., but seconded to the RAF, was lost over Tobruk. [A picture of his grave-site exists on kythera-family. Search under Gengos.]

The following, listed under either RAAF or Army, is a list of young Australian-Greeks, all of Kythcrian extraction, giving their names and (where known), their place of joining, or where their family settled.

R.A.A.F.

While some of these young men were stationed in Australia, others were seconded to the RAF

Castrissios, Xenophon.............Sydney
Coroneos, Peter......................Sydney
Fatseas, Constantine.............Inverell
Gavrilis, Theo..........................Barabba
Gengos, George......................Moree
Gengos, Spiro (Bill).................Moree
Gerakitey, Peter K. (King)......Maitland
Kepreotes, Zaharias...............Werris Creek
Mavromatis, Peter..................Mudgee
Stratigos, Theo.......................Sydney
Tsicalas, Spiro........................Lismore
Tzannes, John.........................Boorowa
Tzortzopoulos, Peter...............Katoomba

ARMY

Of those who served in the army, it appears that, as a general rule, only the Australian-born scrved overseas, mainly in Papua New Guinca and the islands (although a few who were naturalised did see duty overseas).

Andronicus, Charlie.........Sydney
Andronicus, Costa...........Orange
Andronicus, Nick.............Sydney
Aroney, Charlie................Maroubra
Aroney, Nick...................Sydney
Aroney, Nicholas.............Sydney
Aroney, Spiro..................Bingara

Balos, Andrew.................Yanda
Baveas, Kyriakos.............Sydney

Calligeros, George............Tumarrumba
Calligeros, Jim..................Tumarrumba
Calligeros, Spiro...............Tumarrumba
Calligeros, George............Sydney
Calligeros, John................Temora
Calligeros, Nick................Sydney
Calligeros, Peter................Molong
Calligeros, Peter...............Armidale
Calligeros, Tony................Armidale
Calligeros, Jack.................Gladstone, Qld
Camaris, Nick...................
Cassimátis, Andrew...........Bega
Cassimatis, Emanuel...........Sydney
Cassimatis, Emanuel.......... Armidale
Cassimatis, Emanuel...........Armidale
Cassimatis, John.................Bega
Cassimatis, Peter................Molong
Cassimatis, Peter................Murwillumbah
Cassimatis, Jim...................Lake Cargellico
Calokerinos, Thco...........................Gunncdah
Christianos, Charles (Christian)... Tamworth
Christianos, Peter (Christian)........Tamworth
Comino. Cyril P................................Mackay. Qld
Comino. George P......................... ..Mackay, Qld
Comino. Jim P..................................Mackay, Qld
Comino, John (Jack) P.................... Mackay. Qld
Comino. Leslie P.............................. Mackay. Qld
- Comino, Matina...............................Mackay. Qld
Comino. Emanuel P..........................Armidale
Cornino. Peter A...............................Guyra
Comino, Stavrianos (Steve) I..........Sydney
Cominos. Charlie.............................. Blayney
Cominos. Peter..................................Parramatta
Condoleon. Peter..............................Sydney
Coolcntianos. Dennis......................Armidale
Coroneos. Andrew...........................Condobolin
Coroneos, George.............................Forster
Coroneos, John.................................Sydney
Coroneos, Jim....................................Goulburn
Coroneos, Jim....................................Sydney
Coroncos, Jim....................................Maroubra
Coroneos, Thco................................Scone
Critharis, Angelo..............................Cabramatta
Critharis, John...................................Tenterfield

Dedes, George...................................Armidale

Economos. Nick.................................Sydney

Feros, John (Jack) P..........................
Frilingos, Arthur................................Parramatta
Frilingos, Arthur................................Revesby
Frilingos, Lambros............................Brisbane, Qld

Galanis, Jim........................................Newcastle
Galanis, Peter.....................................Newcastle
Gavrilis................................................Canberra
Gavrilis................................................Kempsey
Georgopoulos, Jack..........................Cobar
Georgopoulos, Spiro.........................Gunning
Gianiotis, John...................................Narromine

Haratzas, Emanuel.............................Goulhurn
Haratzas, George...............................Delegate
Haratzas, Harry..................................Goulhurn

Kepreotes. George...........................Werris Creek
Kepreotes, Zaharias........................Werris Creek
Kepreotis, Leslie V...........................Sydney
Kypriotis, Panayiotis (Peter Kyprios)...........
Kriticos, Peter...................................Sydney

Lourantos, Jim..................................Gloucester
Lourantos, Theo...............................Sydney

Magoulas, Jim...................................Sydney
Mallos, John......................................Sydney
Marcellos, James G (Marcells)........NZ
Mavromattes, Theo.............................Nowra
Mavromatis, Con...............................Mudgee
Megaloconomos, Con.......................Oberon
Megaloconomos, George E..............Orange
Megaloconomos, Theo.....................Oberon
Mendis, Nick......................................Tenterfield
Mendis. Nick........................................Sydney
Mihalakakis, John..............................Sydney
Mihalakakis, Mick...............................Wollongong

Notaras. Aristidis.................................Newcastle
Notaras, Frank.....................................Canberra
Notaras, Jim.........................................Gladstone. Qld
Notaras, Peter.....................................Sydney
Notaras. Theo.....................................Rockhampton, Qld

Panaretos. Jack...................................Lismore
Paschalis, Cecil...................................
Paspalas. Nick.................................... Armidale
Pavlakis. Bob.......................................Tarcutta
Pavlakis. John....................................Condobolin
Peros. Frank.........................................Sydney
Petrohilos. Harry.................................Collarenabri
Petrohilos, Jack....................................Bega
Petrohilos, Peter...................................Scone
Poteris, Nick.......................................Coffs Harbour
Poteris, Stamatis................................Sydney
Prineas, George..................................Griffith
Psalidas, Emanuel..............................Sydney
Psaltis, Mick.......................................Grenfell
Psaltis, Peter.......................................Mullumbimby
Psaltis, Theo.......................................Bondi Junction

Samios, Alcibiadis................................Sydney
Simos, Leo...........................................Katoomba
Simos, Theo.......................................Katoomba
Skiekos, Tony....................................Woy Woy
Sklavos, George...................................Parramatta
Skiavos, Nick...................................... Parramatta
Sophios, Harry..................................Harden
Sophios, John...................................Bellingen
Souris, Con........................................Tamworth
Sourry, Andrew...................................Armidale
Stathis, Xenophon P........................Wagga Wagga
Stratigos, Peter..................................Lake Cargellico

Tambakes, Peter.......
Tambakis, Emanuel............................Sydney
Tsanavaeas, George..........................Tamworth
Travasaros, Emanuel.........................Trangie
Travasaros, George............................Sydney
Trifilis, Theo........................................Coffs Harbour
Tsigóunis, Arthur (Jenkins)..............Kempsey

Varipatis, Bill.......................................Tamworth
Varipatis, Stan.....................................Tamworth
Venardos. Spiro...................................Tamworth
Venerys, Stratis (Stan)........................

Zantiotis, George................................Casino


Vietnam


Vietnam
Because many of those who served in the Second World War have passed on, or are now elderly, there was more of a sense of urgency, amongst the Kytherian community, to collect their histories, Honour is also deservedly given to all those younger men who, served Australia, including Con Mentis of Tenterfield, who served in Vietnam

Anastasi (Andy) Notaras of Queensland (his mother and uncles appear in the list above under T. Comino - Mackay, Old) who also served in Vietnam.

Any Kytherians who wish to add to this list are, asked to write, giving contact details as well as War Service information to

The Kytherian Association of Australia
PO Box A2O3
SYDNEY SOUTH
NSW 1235

and/or place additions in the comments space below, at kythera-family.net

Have any Kytherian-Australians written up, or spoken about (on recordings; their personal war experiences?.