- Author
- Hinchliffe, L.M.
- Subjects
- Biographies and personal histories, Obituaries
- Tags
-
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- March 1995 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
At a packed Garden Island Chapel his funeral service was conducted by the Honorary Chaplain of the Naval Historical Society, Principal Chaplain the Reverend Dr. Gareth Clayton M.A. RAN assisted by the Reverend Dr. P. Logan of St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, North Sydney.
In his address Dr. Clayton said, inter alia:
“How does one properly and adequately acknowledge a man like Lew Lind – at least within a short period of time?”
Author, historian, curator, soldier, journalist, patriot, artist, friend, churchman, scholar, father, husband, community worker and there is more – much more.
I cannot hope to reflect the Lew Lind that so many would know. I can at best reflect only Lew Lind as I knew him. So please do not be disappointed if you find I have not reflected on those aspects and dimensions of the Lew Lind that you knew. Such a task is simply just too big.
In his book “Sea Jargon” he wrote “No book is the work of an individual. Knowledge is drawn from the past and present and from memories of men and women, from the long dead and from contemporaries.” Observations such as this clearly mark Lew as a man of HISTORY.
His sense of history led him to be a man of VISION.
Lew was a man of the FAMILY.
Lew was a man of FAITH.
The finest tribute you can pay Lew is to leave the chapel today with some understanding of, or at least acceptance of the challenge to search as he did, continuing to discover as he did.”
A number of the local Cretan Community attended the service with some eight of them dressed in National Costume as a tribute to Lew.
Mr. N. Kotzabasakis in his address said in part:”Death came so suddenly,, so unexpectedly, we were all stunned. He wasn’t scared to face death, he wanted to challenge death the same way he challenged life …and so he went as a volunteer in a foreign land to fight for justice and liberty.
Greek people felt that Lew belonged to us as much as he belonged to Australian people.
With the work that he left to all of us it would be more appropriate to say he belongs to humanity. May his memory be eternal.”
Many letters and messages of condolence were received by Clare, several from abroad; among them being one from Lew’s main contact in Crete:
“Dearest Clare and Irene,
Warmest and sincere condolences for the loss of dearest friend Lew. He was a great patriot and fought for the freedom of Crete. A tireless writer and excellent family man. His memory will live forever.
(sgd.) Markos Palioydakis…”
and from Japan:
“Dear Mrs. Lind, May every consolation be given you in your great loss. He had carried out very distinguished services as building the fine warm hearted bridge over the Pacific between Australia and Japan. Thank you very much Mr Lew Lind. We Japanese pray heartily for the everlasting repose of his soul in the Heaven. Kindly accept my deepest sympathy.
Yours sincerely, The Japan Midget Submarine Association, Teiji Yamiki, President.”
*The above messages are translations.
and from the United Kingdom – T.W. Ferrers-Walker Esq.
“Dear Clare,
Lew represented something very especial, not only in your own family lives, but to Australia and indeed to international relations in which he did so much to foster a spirit of friendship and reconciliations. He was a great Australian, whose connection with military and naval history leaves a reputation enshrined in history…My regret is that he was not honoured with the Order of Australia which in my view he richly deserved. However he will be honoured not only in the hearts and minds of those who had the privilege of knowing him, but also through his work in founding and developing the Naval Historical Society of Australia. That and his published works will remain forever a permanent memorial….
May you find comfort especially in remembering a good and faithful friend and partner and above all, to those who knew him, a deeply dedicated and patriotic Australian.”
The Members and Committee of the Society extend their heartfelt sympathy to his family.