President John Crowe was in Paris recently to address the Annual General Meeting of our French colleagues and members of L’Association National Pour Le Souvenir Des Dardanelles et Fronts D’Orient. It was the fifth time the President had met our friends in Paris and the third AGM he had attended. He is becoming a familiar face and is now well known to many of their members.
At the conclusion of the AGM Vice-Président Jean-Claud Lis introduced President Crowe, who then addressed the meeting in French, explaining the aims of G&DI. An invitation was extended to all present to join G&DI in commemorating the centenary year in Gallipoli in 2015, a suggestion which was received with enthusiasm. Following his address President Crowe then presented a G&DI shield to Présidente Madeleine Stockane in appreciation, a gesture received with enthusiastic applause.
Following the AGM a formal lunch was held at which President Crowe dined with Présidente Madeleine Stockane, Vice-Président Jean-Claude Lis and his wife, Françoise, who also holds the position of Secretary. Mme Lis has a strong personal link with the campaign as her grandfather served as a General at Gallipoli and was killed during the conflict.
There was a strong response on the evening to President Crowe’s address and a number of people joined up on the spot, with others offering to join online. John Crowe: ‘ I feel the evening was a great success and a number of people complimented me on the fact that our organisation is truly international. Without exception, everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming and the meeting went well beyond my expectations’.
You can join Gallipoli & Dardanelles International by visiting our website:
PRESIDENT CROWE’S ADDRESS
I am grateful for this opportunity to speak to you briefly today. I am the President of a new organisation, Gallipoli & Dardanelles International. Our objectives are: Commemoration, Friendship and Education.
This organisation was launched in the town of Gelibolu in Turkey in September 2013 in partnership and co operation of our friends in the Turkish Association, named Gelibolu Dernegi. The Mayor of the town, Mr Mustafa Ozacar, kindly agreed to be a Patron. Mr Randolph Churchill, who is the great-grandson of Sir Winston Churchill, has also kindly agreed to be a Patron.
Our committee has five British, five Australians and one Turk. It includes three honorary members — a retired Brigadier from Turkey, the Agent General for Queensland in Australia and the Chief of the Australian Defence Staff in London, a serving Brigadier.
We would like very much to work together with you, our friends in France. We are in the process of planning an International gathering in Gelibolu in October 2015 to commemorate the centenary.
There is also the possibility of another event in August 2015.
It would be wonderful if you would join with us. Thank you very much for listening to me today. Finally, I would like to present the President with a plaque from Gallipoli & Dardanelles International.
