§ 47. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the Prime Minister our approximate losses in men, ships and aeroplanes in connection with the operations to free Greece and Crete from German-Italian domination and whether any other allied nation took an active part in these operations.
§ Mr. EdenYes, Sir. The total casualties in killed, wounded and missing or prisoners of war suffered by Imperial Military Forces, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy in the above operations to free Greece and Crete down to the time of the German evacuation amounted to some 40,000, mainly in 1941. Nearly 500 aircraft have been lost, and in addition the following warships have been lost or badly damaged, together with the loss of some 120,000 tons of British merchant shipping.
| Lost: | |
| Cruisers | 5 |
| Destroyers | 13 |
| Sloops | 1 |
| Submarines | 3 |
| Minor Vessels | 47 |
| Badly damaged: | |
| Battleships | 3 |
| Escort Carriers | 1 |
| Cruisers | 12 |
| Destroyers | 10 |
| Corvettes | 1 |
| Submarines | 3 |
| Small number of minor War Vessels. |
§ It must be remembered that in those days we were all alone against a victorious Germany and Italy, and in dire peril.
§ Sir L. LyleIs it not obvious from these figures that the British Commonwealth of Nations have taken by far the greatest part in the liberation of this country?
§ Mr. BowlesCan the right hon. Gentleman give the figures since the re-landing in Greece?
§ Mr. EdenIf the hon. Member is referring to the fighting now going on in Athens, I have no detailed figures at present but I understand that the casualties are, happily, very small so far.
§ Mr. BowlesI was referring not to that but to the casualties since the re-landing?
§ Mr. EdenMy figures go down to the time of the German evacuation. If the hon. Member will put a Question down, I will try to give the figures separately.