British Veterans of Vis 1983–2011

It was in 1980 that a group of Veterans on learning of the death of President Marshall Tito contacted the Embassy in London to offer their deepest sympathy.

To honour his memory we British Veterans commissioned a painting of Komiza Harbour showing the jetty wall and landing which became very familiar with all British Forces in the 1943/45 conflict.

This painting was presented to the Ambassador in London on April 2nd 1981 and his request to transfer the painting to the Museum in Split was greeted with approval.

It was this decision that prompted our group to arrange the first visit as Veterans to the Islands of Dalmatia and in particular the Island of Vis where many memories of comradeship with the Partisan Freedom Fighters were forged.

Adm. Sir Morgan Giles Senior Naval Officer Vis with CFVA President Capt Peter Dickens R.N. with Sir Fitzroy Maclean R.N.. Winston Churchill’s envoy to Marshall Tito, also with Harold Garland

The Island of Vis had once again become a front line fortress for the then Yugoslav Military Forces and was declared a no go area to all visitors.

Where upon our first visit to the Island in May 1983 we had to obtain from the then Embassy in London a special one day permit with strict security and restrictions on our movements.

It was during that visit we learnt with deep sadness that in the early 1950s all Allied Service Casualties from the 1943/45 conflict buried in the Island cemeteries at Vis and at Milna, were removed and re-interned in the British War Grave Cemetery in Belgrade.

As we stepped ashore on our arrival at Vis we were received with great enthusiasm by the Islanders with a warm welcome from the local band with their rendering of “It’s a long way to Tipperary” which over the years has become our anthem. This was coupled with the warmth of the comradeship in the meeting with the local Partisan Fighters who remembered our coming to the Island in 1944.

Then on to Komiza by bus over the notorious mountain road to again walk along the jetty to lay a wreath on the water for those of our shipmates lost at sea whose graves are the waters around those Islands

Welcome to Komiza 1983

So to Vis for our departure to the mainland Port of Split after our brief but very emotional and hectic visit ,when it seemed that the whole townsfolk had turned out to bid us a fond farewell and a sincere invitation to return again soon.

Au Revoir Vis 1983

Once back on the mainland we were invited by our hosts the Partisan Veterans of Dalmatia to visit their Museum in Split to view the painting “Komiza Harbour 1943”

SS Bakar - Partisan ferry from Vis to the port of Bari 1943/45

It was in 1985 that we again returned to Vis with some 140 British Veterans including Royal Navy Coastal Forces - Royal Marine Commando‘s - Army Commando’s and Army units to Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of V.E. Day.

Welcome to Vis

During this visit a plaque was unveiled on the Building in Vis once used as the Allied Forces Command H.Q. dedicated to British and Partisans of Tito’s Liberation Army. This was followed by a Parade and wreath laying ceremony at the Elementary School after which we were greeted and entertained by the Students with their singing in English.

Our welcome from the Children was always sincere and warm

Faces and Places

A word of welcome on arrival at Split Airport in 1985 by Katja Kovic

Proudly the 5m Atlantic Freedom Memorial dominates the burial ground at Milna rising from the under- growth as a silent reminder of the sacrifice made for freedom and the defeat of fascism.

Memorial dedicated by Bishop of Lichfield Dr Edward Woods in June 1944 FREEDOM

From WANT --- FEAR of RELIGION --- SPEECH 8

Komiza

Freedom Fighters Memorial

To our partisan comrades who sacrificed their lives in the defeat of fascism

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM British Veterans of Vis 9

It was then to Komiza to honour our shipmates lost at sea with the laying of a wreath of remembrance on the water off the jetty and on to Navy House where operations and patrols around the Islands were planned under the command of S.N.O. Vis Lieut. Comm. Morgan Giles RN

Re-union with Buliko sisters who baked our bead in 1944

On to the R,A,F, Memorial which dominates the once hastily prepared landing strip where the runway markers are still visible to remember those aircrews many who had to land in an emergency

RAF Hurricane over Vis Painting by Harold Garland

May 1987

We were honoured to be invited to visit the tomb of President Tito in the Hall of Flowers in Belgrade and to pay our tribute with the laying of flowers and a message in the book of remembrance

Tribute by Peter Bickmore on behalf of the British Veterans of Vis

Podgora

1987

We were welcomed by the Mayor of Podgora and entertained by the schools in our tribute to those Freedom Fighters in whose memory this memorial was dedicated.

Faces and Places

Komiza 1989 With the Children

Meet the Children in School

September 1999

British Cemetery Vis

With the generous support of the Mayors and Town Councils of Vis and Komiza and our Embassy in Zagreb we achieved our long awaited ambition for a plaque dedicated to the British Forces and those of Tito’s Army of Liberation sacrificed in the Island conflict of 1943/45

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Island of Brac Vidova Gora

September 2000 a plaque was dedicated in honour of the combined operation in June 1944 by the Partisans and Royal Marine Commando’s to capture the high ground that overlooked the strategic area of the channel to the Port of Split