Greek Army Special Revolver

This artefact is a .38 calibre Greek Army Colt ‘Army Special’ revolver.

This weapon was brought back to New Zealand on a furlough draft by Private Allan Roy Kelland (22215), 18 Battalion, 4 Infantry Brigade, 2NZEF.

Private Kelland obtained the revolver from a Greek Non Commisioned officer during the withdrawal from Crete in 1941.

Not all soldiers were evacuated from Crete with thousands of men left behind.  These men were ordered to surrender and about 6,500 did so.  Others escaped into the hills and attempted to find their own way back to Egypt.  Many of these did eventually escape, often with the aid of the Cretan people.  Others were killed or captured later in the war.