Serbia Remembers – Australians and New Zealanders in World War One

On Saturday 15 September 2018, descendants of Australians who served with Serbs during World War One joined members of the Australian Serbian community at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra for a special Centenary of World War One commemoration, marking an important chapter in relations between Australians, New Zealanders and Serbs during their joint struggle as Allies in the War.

Serbia Remembers – Australians and New Zealanders in World War One Source: SBS

The commemoration at the War Memorial was part of a program of events in Canberra on 14, 15 and 16 September, co-organised by the Library Fund of the St Lazarus Serbian Orthodox Church, with the support of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Australia, the Metropolitanate of Australia and New Zealand of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Serbian organisations in Australia. The event was organised by  a committee of 3: Ms Mirjana Djukic, HE Mr Miroljub Petrovic and Bojan Pajic.

This commemoration coincides with the centenary of a decisive breakthrough on the Salonika Front by the Serbian and Allied armies between 15 and 18 September 1918 at the Battle of Dobro Polje, which led to the capitulation of the Bulgarian Army and eventually to the defeat of Austria- Hungary, Ottoman Turkey and Germany and the end of WWI. Several hundred Australians and New Zealanders served on the Salonika Front alongside the allied Serbian Army and nearby seas.

Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia HE Mr Miroljub Petrović said for SBS that he is very proud seeing a huge number of Australians attending the event.

Senator for NSW Jim Molan AO DSC read the message on behalf of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC and Major General Professor John Pearn AO RFD MD had given a talk on The Oak and the Wattle: Australians with Serbs in World War One.

Bojan Pajic spoke of the experience of his grandfather, Lazar Stefanovic and grand uncle, Dragomir Profirovic, both officers of the Serbian Army in World War One and outlined the course of events during the war in Serbia and on the Salonika Front in 1914-1918.

Richard Cooke has given a talk on his grandmother, Nursing Sister Ethel Gillingham, one of the Australian Medical Volunteers in Serbia.

His Grace the Right Reverend Siluan Bishop of Australia and New Zealand - Serbian Orthodox Church addressed the guests talking about Serbian people in World War One.

Then Margaret Brown has talked about her great uncle, Lieutenant Niall Mullarkey and other Australian volunteers - In Serbia and on the Salonika Front 1915-1918. And  Kathy Hancock  talked about her great aunt, Dr Mary de Garis - With the Serbian Army, 1917 to 1918.

The service of some 1,500 Australian and New Zealand medical volunteers, soldiers, airmen and sailors in Serbia and on the Salonika Front will be commemorated; as will the service of more than 170 Australians and New Zealanders decorated by Serbia for distinguished and gallant service.

Afterwards Book launch was held  by Emeritus Professor David Horner AM of : Our Forgotten Volunteers: Australians and New Zealanders with Serbs in World War One, by Bojan Pajic.