Crete Commemeration

Mention the name “Kapetan Vasili” on the island of Crete, and the older generations will tell you of the exploits of a legendary World War II solider, who happened to be a New Zealander. Recently, his exploits were permanently recorded by the dedication of a plaque on the Greek/Crete war memorial in Wellington.

	Neville Perkins, brother of Dudley Perkins sits with Dudley's Grand neice and nephew Juliet and Jonathan Sewell, as they reflect on the ceremonies just performed.

In a moving ceremony on 21 May 2003 (62 years after the German parachute invasion of the island), representatives from the Greek government joined the NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark, the British High Commissioner, and representatives from the NZDF, RNZRSA, Maori Battalion and members of the local Cretan, Greek, and Cypriots communities honouring those who died in the Battle for Crete and this remarkable soldier.

Staff Sergeant Dudley Perkins arrived in Crete following the fall of Greece and was one of the many New Zealanders that were captured by the German Forces during the unsuccessful defence of the island. He escaped after about two weeks of capture, and spend a year moving around the island hiding from the occupying forces. During this time many local civilians assisted him. He was eventually evacuated to Egypt via a Greek submarine.

Impressed by the assistance given to him by the Cretans, Perkins with his knowledge of conditions on the island joined the British Special Operations Executive and was returned to Crete.

He took command of a guerrilla band, which he trained, organised, and led in numerous attacks against the occupying forces.

On 25 February 1944, Dudley Perkins was killed in action in the White Mountain region of Crete. He was aged 29 years.

The Rt Hon. Helen Clark, Prime Minister of New Zealand pays her respects to the fallen.

Following the laying of wreaths, the Prime Minister unveiled a plaque recording Perkin’s achievements. Embedded in the wall under the plaque is a stone from the White Mountains.

The Battle for Crete holds a special place in the history of the 2NZEF. On 20 May 1941 the German forces began their invasion of the island, primarily by a large force of paratroops and airborne (glider) units. An allied force of British, Australian, New Zealand and Greek troops defended Crete. “Creforce” as the force was titled was under the command of Major-General Bernard Freyberg.

Despite several heroic defensive engagements, by the 26th of May it was obvious that Crete could no longer be defended, and those allied forces still uncaptured withdrew to Sfakia where from 28 – 31 May over 16,500 men were evacuated. On 1 June the exhausted remnants of Creforce of about 6,500 soldiers surrendered to the German forces.

There was a high cost to all combatants in the Battle for Crete; Total allied losses were 15,743 of whom 1,751 were killed or died of wounds, New Zealand losses were 671 killed, 967 wounded and 2,180 became POWs. German losses were around 3,300 killed and 3,400 wounded. German High Command referred to the Battle of Crete as the “graveyard of the paratroops” They were not used in this role again during the war.