It’s a great priviledge to have this opportunity to address you all at the main Australian memorial at Gallipoli on this most special day in the hearts of Australians.
The memorial before you commemorates not only the 8,709 Australian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice during the campaign – but also the loss of thousands of courageous soldiers from Turkey, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, France and India.
It is said that Australia, as a nation, was born on the shores of Gallipoli, and our proud identity as Australians stems from the bravery of the Diggers here.
The courage, commitment and valour of Australian troops during the Gallipoli campaign is epitomised by the famous bayonet attack on the Turkish trenches by the 1st Australian Infantry Brigade at Lone Pine.
The Turkish trenches at Lone Pine were very strongly defended. The front of the attack was barely 150 metres wide and the Australians needed to advance nearly 90 metres to reach the Turkish trenches.
At 1730 on August 6, the Diggers charged the heavily entrenched pine-log-covered Turkish position, broke through, and then engaged in terrible hand-to-hand combat.
After resisting valiant Turkish counter-attacks over several days, the Diggers held the position, which they occupied until the evacuation in December 1915.
Today, we gather in remembrance of all those who fought for their countries at Lone Pine. In particular, we remember the 2000 Australian and more than 6000 Turkish casualties which occurred right here on this soil.
Lone Pine was but one of many bitterly contested positions on the ANZAC front line but it is particularly remembered – not only because of those we lost – but also because of the mateship, valour and courage displayed here by our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers.
These values were so strongly reflected in Australian actions here at Lone Pine, that seven Victoria Crosses – the highest Commonwealth award for bravery in time of war – were bestowed to the following recipients: Corporal Alexander Burton; Corporal William Dunstan; Private John Hamilton; Private Leonard Keysor; Lieutenant Frederick Tubb; Captain Alfred Shout; and, Lieutenant William Symons.
Many heroic feats were performed not only by these men at Lone Pine, but also by their mates on the shores of Gallipoli. I offer just one example which to me epitomises the ANZAC and Digger legends.
The Victoria Cross citation for Private Keysor reads:
On August 7, Private Keysor was in a trench which was being heavily bombed by the enemy. At great risk to himself he picked up two live Turkish bombs and threw them back at the enemy. Although wounded, he kept throwing bombs. The next day, at the same place, he bombed the enemy out of a position which made his trench vulnerable. He was again wounded. Although he was marked for hospital he stayed in the trenches and threw bombs for another company which had lost its bomb throwers. Keysor kept throwing both Turkish bombs and crude Australian bombs, manufactured on the beach, for fifty hours before he allowed himself to be evacuated for treatment.
We shall never be able to repay the debt that we, as a nation, owe to those who fought, not only here in Gallipoli, but also in campaigns on the Western Front, in subsequent wars and conflicts, and who go on serving with courage and conviction in overseas operations today.
We can but remember them, their actions and the values they epitomised, and promise to keep their memory in our hearts and minds, and strive to be worthy of those who fought and fell.
Lest We Forget.
