Hi 'Sentimental',
I note you have chosen to visit in May next year because it is the time of the anniversary of the Battle of Crete, the 67th! You should find yourself in good company. There will hopefully be a few Brits from the Crete Veterans and Friends Society, (they will be mainly based in Chania area), and I am sure there will be some Kiwis (no doubt Marilyn and some friends as well as an official party) and of course I expect there will be a good few Aussies. It is always a good time to be in Crete and amongst such wonderful company to my mind.
Your father was not alone in naming his part of Australia after somewhere he experienced in Crete. The late Geoff Edwards, an Aussie who escaped with his mate Bill McCarry on a British submarine HMS Thrasher (see all the links from
http://www.explorecr...e-of-crete.html ) named his part of Oz Prevelly (sic)- it is now a well known watersports area I gather. Geoff wrote his story in a book called The Road to Prevelly, It is quite difficult to get hold of in Europe but may be easier to obtain in Australia.
Geoff was the inspiration behind the memorial that now stands on the road to Preveli monastery in Crete, together with a number of other means of remembering those Cretans who helped him and other POWs.
There is a veterans association in Australia, the Returning something or other if I remember correctly- I can find out the name if you like. I am sure I still have some current contacts if you would like details. Just go to www.kastri.co.uk and you will see my email address. (sorry other folk- I still haven't got around to putting it back on line properly)
Tim