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Venizelos Graves - Offers a panoramic view of Chania and the western sector, where the 5th New Zealand Brigade was positioned at the start of the Battle of Crete. Also the location of General Freiberg’s headquarters.
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Tavronitis Bridge - Site of the German glider landing zone, which saw intense fighting.
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30 and 33 Squadron RAF Memorial - A memorial near Maleme Air Base in Platanias, Crete, dedicated to the RAF’s role in the Battle of Crete.
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Maleme - Location of the 22nd Battalion NZ’s defensive positions.
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Hill 107 - A strategic point and the site of the German War Cemetery established in 1974. It offers a panoramic view of the Tavronitis River and Maleme Airfield, and was a turning point in the battle.
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Modi - Where Cretan farmer Yakovos Kaliontzakis tended to the wounded Ted D’Auvergne.
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Agii Apostoli Beach - Location of the 7th General Hospital, 6th Field Ambulance, and a POW camp in 1941.
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Chania Town - Site of the heroic defense by Australian, NZ, and Maori forces against German parachutists on 27 May 1941, known as 42nd Street.
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Souda Bay War Cemetery - A Commonwealth War Cemetery where Ted D’Auvergne is buried. Also notable for the sinking of the cruiser HMS York and the disembarkation of Layforce commandos on the night of 23/24 May 1941.
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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..
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