Speech by HE Ambassador Ian Biggs on the occasion of the 81st Anniversary Commemorative Event “The Crow’s Flight Memorial Event” on 27 September 2025
Excellencies, esteemed veterans, dignitaries, friends.
It is a great privilege to be joining you today at the Otok airfield for a second time as we remember this remarkable story of courage and endurance
—one of the greatest escapes of Allied soldiers during World War II who found freedom thanks to the bravery and sacrifice of Slovenian partisans more than 80 years ago.
Yesterday, I was honoured to lay a wreath at the Pobrežje Cemetery in Maribor and earlier this year, in April, I had the privilege of attending the unveiling of a commemorative plaque for another impressive World War II rescue of an Australian soldier near Laško.
Royal Australian Air Force pilot Barnaby D. Davies’ plane was shot down over German-occupied territory near Laško on 1 April 1945.
Like Ralph Churches and his companions, he was saved by the courage and determination of local villagers and Slovenian partisans.
Over eighty years later, we come together to honour the legacy of those who risked everything for their brothers in arms, their comrades, their country, and their freedom.
The bravery of Australian Private Ralph Churches and his British colleague Leslie Laws remind us that even in the darkest of times, there is always someone we can turn to, someone who extends a helping hand when we least expect it.
It is with solemn gratitude that we remember the partisans and civilians of this country who sheltered, guided, and defended them, often at the risk of their own lives.
Their sacrifice shall not be forgotten.
It is to them we must be grateful for restoring our liberty and freedoms we all take for granted.
Let me also thank those of you who are here with us today for preserving the shared history that binds us together.
I am proud to stand here before you paying tribute to the enduring friendship between Australia and Slovenia.
Ralph’s son, Neil, regrets that he cannot be here with us today, but has asked me to pass on the following words ‐ and I quote:
My father's escape across Slovenia in 1944 was not just a personal journey.
It was part of a corridor of freedom through fascist and Nazi occupation.
With the help of the Slovenian partisans, hundreds traversed the mountains and valleys, seeking liberty from tyranny.
Slovenians worked together to make the passage possible, united by courage and trust.
Dakota planes flew my father and his companions to safety, but the Slovenian people guided them here.
My father shared his story to remind others that freedom always needs guardians.
As new threats of authoritarianism emerge across the globe, this story serves as a reminder of what is at stake.
Slovenia, then and now, on Europe's front line against oppression.
Slovenia's resistance in 1944 resonates in its current stance: a small nation playing a vital role in upholding liberty.
End quote.
The bonds we forged in shared struggle continue to define the today —as partners, as friends, and as nations committed to promoting a more peaceful and secure world.
We work closely bilaterally and, perhaps most importantly, in multilateral forums, including at the United Nations.
On 21 September, Australia and Slovenia joined over 100 countries in our endorsement of the “Declaration for the Protection of Humanitarian Personnel” ahead of the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week in New York, reaffirming our commitment to and respect for international humanitarian law.
This is why today’s commemoration is as much about the present as it is about the past.
As Ukraine faces an unprovoked war of aggression the lessons from the past are more important than ever in Europe and across the globe.
Peace is fragile, and developments across the world remind us that freedom, democracy, and human dignity must always be defended – each and every day.
Like those who came before us, we must remain vigilant and stand united against tyranny.
That's why Australia is pleased to be stepping up our cooperation with Slovenia and the European Union, including through negotiating a Security and Defence Partnership (SDP).
Let me conclude by thanking the people of Slovenia, and in particular all veterans, for the bravery of you and your forebears and for the camaraderie that continues to inspire us.
May their example guide us as we work together for peace, freedom, and a better future for generations to come.
Thank you.
Najlepša hvala!