Portianos Military Cemetery
Portianos Military Cemetery
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Bill H
Graham, NC191 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
In 1915 the countries allied against Germany invaded Turkish Gallipoli in an effort to knock the Ottoman Empire, a German ally, out of the war. The nearby Greek island of Lemnos was used as a staging, supply and hospital area for the invasion. After 8 months of fighting and 50,000 Allied deaths, the battle was called off, leaving the Turks in charge of Gallipoli.
There are three WWI military cemeteries on Lemnos, all of them in the area around Moudros Bay on the island's south side.
After a drive to Myrina we stumbled across the Porianos cemetery while driving back to our hotel. When you enter the village there are signs pointing you to the cemetery. It's adjacent to the attractive local church and next to the municipal cemetery. 347 dead from the Commonwealth countries of Britain, Australia and New Zealand are interred in a beautiful setting with aa couple of tasteful monuments. Especially moving is the monument in the small square where you turn to drive to the church and cemetery.
This moving tribute to the victims of a poorly designed military campaign is well worth the trip.
There are three WWI military cemeteries on Lemnos, all of them in the area around Moudros Bay on the island's south side.
After a drive to Myrina we stumbled across the Porianos cemetery while driving back to our hotel. When you enter the village there are signs pointing you to the cemetery. It's adjacent to the attractive local church and next to the municipal cemetery. 347 dead from the Commonwealth countries of Britain, Australia and New Zealand are interred in a beautiful setting with aa couple of tasteful monuments. Especially moving is the monument in the small square where you turn to drive to the church and cemetery.
This moving tribute to the victims of a poorly designed military campaign is well worth the trip.
Written October 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
kixars
Melbourne, Australia167 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
We wanted to pay our respects to all the fallen soldiers, especially the ANZAC's. It was a very moving and emotional visit with lots of soldiers laid to rest here. It has been set up very well and in immaculate condition. Great work to the people that look after and run this place. A must see when in Lemnos.
Written January 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Phillip D
Melbourne, Australia50 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Lemnos played such an important role during world war 1. All Australian soldiers who took part in the Gallipoli battle left on ships that departed from this island. They trained here and prepared for what was an absolute massacre. The injured came back here. Those who died from their injuries where buried on Lemnos in 2 cemeteries, one in Moudros and the other, here in Pourtianou. This cemetery is an ideal spot to pay respect for those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Lest we forget.
Written August 7, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alison
Guildford, UK145 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
We have visited many WW1 graveyards so this was a must on our visit to the island. Moving as always, and beautifully maintained as they all are.
Written July 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Michael P
Tagaytay, Philippines1,393 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Our Taste of Lemnos tour, filled with Prinsendam seasoned cruisers, has brought us here to this field of memories.
It is a beautiful field where children should be playing or sheep should be grazing. These men so far from their homes came here to answer their countries call a century ago. The people of Limnos have kept this field of honor in impressive grace. We walked among their stones and tried to understand how different their lives were from ours. The military titles of their different positions seemed as strange to me as the new titles of today’s military. It really was a somber experience reading the words “Far from his home he lies at rest and strangers tend his grave”.
If we strangers don’t stop and visit, who will so far from his home?
It is a beautiful field where children should be playing or sheep should be grazing. These men so far from their homes came here to answer their countries call a century ago. The people of Limnos have kept this field of honor in impressive grace. We walked among their stones and tried to understand how different their lives were from ours. The military titles of their different positions seemed as strange to me as the new titles of today’s military. It really was a somber experience reading the words “Far from his home he lies at rest and strangers tend his grave”.
If we strangers don’t stop and visit, who will so far from his home?
Written July 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bougiebougierson
Melbourne, Victoria2,029 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
Located in Anzac Street next to the village church and cemetery, the Portianou Military Cemetery is a moving tribute to those who lost their life during the Gallipoli campaign. It is a quiet place to walk and reflect. While in Portianou you can also visit the mansion that Winston Churchill used the command centre during the Gallipoli campaign.
Written October 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lazarina
London60 contributions
Jun 2021
This is the smaller of the 2 Anzac cemeteries on Limnos, and is in the small village of Portianos. Immaculately maintained, the peacefulness of the area added to the poignancy of the cemetery.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
saronic
Zurich, Switzerland25,887 contributions
Sep 2018 • Friends
Lemnos played an important role in the history of the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign. Especially thanks to the large Bay of Moudros the island was used as a base, from where troops of the Entente powers were sent on ships to fight on the Turkish peninsula of Gallipoli. Many soldiers then were sent back here to recuperate from injuries or illnesses and a lot of them died here. Two military cemeteries - one at Moudros, one at the village of Portianos - are reminders of this event.
Many of the soldiers were members of ANZAC, the Australian New Zealand Army Corps, and the road leading up to the cemetery, past the Orthodox Church of 'Ta Eisodia tis Theotokou', is called 'ANZAC Street'. The cemetery is very well kept and lined up in several rows are the similar looking tombstones of 352 soldiers. An information board gives more details. A serene place, where each visitor will follow his own thoughts.
At the main road before the cemetery is an attractive neoclassical house, which was a command center during this period, lasting from Feb 2015 till Jan 2016. The mastermind behind the Gallipoli campaign, the then 41 years old Winston Churchill as First Lord of Admiralty, also spent some time in this house, which today gets used as an 'Agence Consulaire de France' (not open to visitors). In the village of Portianou is also a Folkloric Museum (open 10am-2pm, except Mondays), where one has to follow a 15minutes guided tour in Greek or English.
Many of the soldiers were members of ANZAC, the Australian New Zealand Army Corps, and the road leading up to the cemetery, past the Orthodox Church of 'Ta Eisodia tis Theotokou', is called 'ANZAC Street'. The cemetery is very well kept and lined up in several rows are the similar looking tombstones of 352 soldiers. An information board gives more details. A serene place, where each visitor will follow his own thoughts.
At the main road before the cemetery is an attractive neoclassical house, which was a command center during this period, lasting from Feb 2015 till Jan 2016. The mastermind behind the Gallipoli campaign, the then 41 years old Winston Churchill as First Lord of Admiralty, also spent some time in this house, which today gets used as an 'Agence Consulaire de France' (not open to visitors). In the village of Portianou is also a Folkloric Museum (open 10am-2pm, except Mondays), where one has to follow a 15minutes guided tour in Greek or English.
Written July 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jodie P
Marysville, WA191 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
We were moved by our visit to this well kept cemetary. Having recently read about the Gallipoli Campaign in WWI where so many young men from Britain, Australia and New Zealand lost their lives I was interested in seeing this final resting place for so many.
Written November 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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