The victims of the Battle of Crete during World War 2 were honoured during events commemorating the 78th anniversary of the iconic battle at the Maleme airport near Chania on Tuesday.

Soil from Rethymno from the battlefield of the Battle of Crete was given yesterday to Australian Ambassador Kate Logan, in the presence of deputy governor Maria Lioni, Mayor of Rethymno Yorgos Marinakis, descendants of families ofservicemen and a crowd of people.

Some 7700 New Zealanders fought in the battle of Crete which began on May 20, 1941.