submitted by Vema Newspaper on 07.07.2005
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?.
submitted by Penelope Clark ( Pavlakis ) on 17.05.2010
My father Yannis Pavlakis served in the 100th squadron of the RAAF in WW2 and was based in Windsor, NSW. He is the son of Yannis Pavlakis and Maria Tambakis of Fratsia
submitted by Gaye Hegeman on 16.06.2010
Both my uncles from Brisbane (deceased), George Theodore Andronicos and Emmanuel Joseph Andronicos served in the Australian army in Papua New Guinea. They are sons of Theordoros George Andronicos from Potamos.
submitted by Colin Brealey on 15.03.2011
Hi, My Grandfather, Constantine Fatseas, served with the Royal Australian Air Force, not the Army as listed on this page. As far as I'm aware, he wasn't known as Jack either. My great grandfather was known as Jack though. My Grandfather's service details are:Service Record Name FATSEAS, CONSTANTINE Service Royal Australian Air Force Service Number 61068 Date of Birth 23 Jun 1923 Place of Birth INVERELL, NSW Date of Enlistment 14 Oct 1941 Locality on Enlistment INVERELL, NSW Place of Enlistment SYDNEY, NSW Next of Kin FATSEAS, JACK Date of Discharge 28 Feb 1949 Rank Corporal Posting at Discharge EASTERN AREA HEADQUARTERS WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display Prisoner of War No Could you please amend the details? Thank you!
submitted by Leslie Comino on 05.03.2013
Hi My Father Theodore Minas Comino joined the RAAF in Inverell and went to New Guinea but there is no mention of him here could you please include his name in the RAAF column thanking you Leslie comino
submitted by Katina Comino on 01.08.2014
Comino, Nicholas Ioannis (Nick) - Army Sydney
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