The Battle of Lone Pine, one of the most remembered battles fought by the ANZACs, commenced today 110 years ago on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Minister for Veterans David Harris visited the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park Sydney to acknowledge the anniversary, to learn more about the importance of the battle and hear about some of the Memorial's collection items.
Lone Pine was one of the major battles of the August offensive in 1915. It was a diversion to draw Ottoman reserves away from the attacks by Australian, British, Indian and New Zealand troops further north. It was hoped that the battle would help break the trench deadlock and allow a British advance to capture the strategic Dardanelles.
Commencing at 5:30pm on 6 August, and lasting four days with vicious hand-to-hand fighting, the Australians suffered more than 2,200 casualties and the Ottomans over 5,000.
Those who served at Lone Pine are commemorated in the north-eastern niche of the Anzac Memorial's Hall of Memory, and soil from the battlefield sits within the floor of the Memorial's Hall of Service.
Seven Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for valour in the British Empire, for their actions at Lone Pine. Only nine Australians earned VCs for the entire Gallipoli campaign. Three of these VCs were awarded to NSW men: Captain Alfred Shout, Lance Corporal Leonard Keysor and Private John Hamilton.
Anzac Memorial Senior Historian and Curator Brad Manera highlighted one of the Memorial's collection items, the plaque that honours Captain Alfred John Shout VC MC. Awarded the Victoria Cross for extraordinary bravery at Lone Pine, he was mortally wounded capturing and holding Ottoman-held trenches.
Another priceless collection item held by the Anzac Memorial from the Gallipoli campaign is a map carried by Lieutenant Thomas Alfred Playfair of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade. Landing with the first ANZAC waves,
Playfair served as a forward observer, directing naval gunfire. He was twice wounded, including during the Battle of Lone Pine, and was mentioned in despatches for his actions.
The map illustrates the challenges of coordinating artillery fire with limited tools and offers insight into the strategic aims of the August offensive.
View the Anzac Memorial's online collection on their website.
Minister for Veterans, David Harris said:
"Today we commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine, one of the major battles of the August offensive in Gallipoli during the First World War. We honour the service of our ANZACs and remember 2,200 casualties as a result of the conflict.
"I would like to thank the Anzac Memorial for the private tour to learn more about the battle and see some of the collection items from the Gallipoli campaign.
"I encourage anyone with an interest in military history to visit the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park or view the collection items online."
