On the morning of 27 December 1939, Ted D'Auvergne was enjoying his last day on leave at home, before embarking on overseas service.
He said farewell to his family and then walked to the hotel, where he was a regular patron, in order to have a couple of final bottles before catching the train. Ted did not have time to drink the second bottle of his favourite Ballins XXXX ale.The 27th Machine Gun Battalion was one of the first units to go into action in the Greek Campaign in April 1941, in Crete.
Ted and his gunners were fighting a rear-guard action amongst the vineyards in harassing the oncoming Germans to play for time while evacuation was in progress at a beach on the North Western coast of the island.
Ted was posted as missing in May 1941. After the war, a Cretan farmer, Yakovos Kaliontzakis said that he found Ted wounded and cared for him, but he died two days later. Yakovos informed the Authorities after the war, and Ted’s body was reburied at Suda Bay War Cemetery..
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Private transportation
✔ Bottled water
✔ Snacks
✔ In-vehicle air conditioning
✔ All fees and/or taxes
✖ Lunch
✖ Tip or gratuity
Pickup Locations
1. Hotel Splanzia
2. Ideon Hotel
3. Polixeny's Suites
4. Ontas Traditional Hotel
5. Hotel Candia
6. Katrina Studios & Apartments
7. Pandora Suites Hotel
8. Chania Rooms
9. Palazzo Di Pietro
10. Archontiki Hotel
11. Porto Veneziano Hotel
12. AZADE Chania
13. Amphora Hotel
14. Casadipietra
15. Kriti Hotel
16. Hotel Aegli
17. Elia Palazzo Hotel
18. La Maison Ottomane
19. Samaria Hotel
20. Amphitri Hotel
Additional Info: Your professional English speaking guide will wait in the lobby holding a sign with your name
Itinerary
1
Panoramic view of Chania and the west sector (5th New Zealand Brigade disposition) where the Battle of Crete began.
General Freiberg’s HQ.
Duration: 30 minutes
2
Tavronitis Bridge
German glider landing zone, around which fierce battles were fought
Duration: 30 minutes
3
RAF memorial for Battle of Crete near Maleme Air Base in Platanias, Crete
Duration: 30 minutes
4
Maleme
22nd Battalion NZ, Defensive Positions
Duration: 30 minutes
5
The strategic Hill 107 and Tavronitis Bridge, the turning point of the Battle: Now the site of the German War Cemetery, established in 1974. Panoramic view of Tavronitis River and Maleme Airfield.
Duration: 30 minutes
6
Where a Cretan farmer, Yakovos Kaliontzakis cared the wounded Ted D'Auvergne.
Duration: 30 minutes
7
Agii Apostoli Beach
7th General hospital and 6th Field Ambulance and POW camp at Agii Apostoli, Chania, Crete, Greece, 1941
Duration: 30 minutes
8
Chania Town
42nd Street Street: Heroic Australian, NZ, Maori, defence against German parachutists on 27 May 1941
Duration: 30 minutes
9
Souda Bay War Cemetery
Commonwealth War Cemetery - Ted D'Auvergne grave
The sinking of cruiser HMS York
Disembarkation of Layforce - an ad hoc military formation of the British Army consisting of a number of commando units during the Second World War - Commandos in the darkness on 23/24 May 1941
Duration: 30 minutes
Additional info
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
