Cemetery pines

A number of local Cemetery Trusts received Lone Pines this week, as part of the Anzac Centenary commemorations. They were propagated from the lone pine at the Australian War Memorial.

3 of the pines

The potted Pinus halepensis plants are a symbol of the battle which commenced on 6th August 1915, when the Australian Infantry Division launched a major offensive at Plateau 400 at Gallipoli. The ridges had been covered in the Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) which were cut down to cover and line trenches, leaving one solitary tree. It then became known as 'Lone Pine Ridge'. In the 3 days of fighting the A.N.Z.A.C.s lost 2,000 men and the Turkish losses were estimated at 7,000. 

Lance Corporal Benjamin Charles Smith of the 3rd Battalion sent several cones to his mother in Inverell N.S.W., Mrs McMullen sowed some of the seeds some 13 years later. Of these 2 seedlings were grown - one was presented to the town of Inverell, and the Duke of Gloucester planted the second tree at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. 

Sergeant Keith McDowell of the 24th Battalion brought back a pine cone to give to his aunt - Mrs Emma Gray of Warrnambool. 4 seedlings were grown and planted at several Shrines of Remembrance in Victoria.

The Melbourne Shrine framed by a lone pine

In 1990, two trees were taken back to Gallipoli by veterans who attended the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Lone Pine.