Leslie “Les” Cook, believed to have been the last surviving ANZAC veteran to fight in the Battle of Crete during World War II, has died at 103, prompting tributes from Australian and Greek communities alike.
Cook, who turned 103 in January, held honorary life membership in both the Hellenic Club of Canberra and the Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra, recognition of his service and sacrifice for Australia and Greece.
Leslie Cook’s journey from England to Australia
Cook was born in Herefordshire, England, in 1923 and moved to Australia as a young child. He grew up on a dairy farm in Gippsland, Victoria, before enlisting in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force in May 1940 at the age of 17.
He served as a signaller with the 2/14th Battalion, joining the Allied war effort as the conflict expanded across Europe and the Mediterranean.
Leslie Cook fought in the Battle of Crete
In March 1941, Cook arrived in Greece as part of the Allied campaign against Nazi Germany. He later fought in the Battle of Crete alongside Greek, Australian, and New Zealand troops during one of the most punishing campaigns in the Mediterranean theater.
The fighting took place under extreme conditions. Allied forces faced major equipment shortages and relentless aerial bombardment while German troops controlled the skies.
Cook continued serving after Crete and saw duty in North Africa, Syria, New Guinea, and Japan before returning to Australia in 1947.
A career of service after the war
After the war, Cook joined the Australian Public Service and remained there until his retirement in 1981.
He stayed active in later life and earned deep respect within the Greek Australian community, which viewed him as a living link to Greece and to the wartime bond between the two countries.
Leslie Cook and the lasting legacy of the Battle of Crete
Cook is survived by his three daughters and remains one of the final figures linking Australia and Greece to the Battle of Crete and their wartime alliance.
His passing marks the loss of another member of the generation whose service shaped a shared chapter in both countries’ history.
