REMEMBERANCE DAY - LONE PINE TREE

Today, our school came together for a meaningful Remembrance Day ceremony, led by our dedicated SRC students. It was a powerful moment of reflection and gratitude as we paid tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country.

Our 2025 school captains also took part in the service, attending the ceremony at Memorial Square and laying a wreath in honor of the fallen. Their presence reminded us all of the importance of remembering and respecting the sacrifices made for our freedom.

We stand united in remembrance, today and every day. Lest we forget.

THE BATTLE OF LONE PINE - READ BY MONTY THEODORE

The attack at Lone Pine on (August 6-9, 1915), was a diversionary attack, not the main battle, during the Gallipoli campaign of World War I and was a key event in the Gallipoli campaign. Following a heavy artillery bombardment, the Australian 1st Brigade launched an assault on Turkish trenches, aiming to draw reinforcements away from other major objectives like in the North.

1. The Assault:

   • Started at 4:30 PM on August 6

   • The Australian 1st Brigade charged across no man’s land under intense enemy fire, with many soldiers killed or wounded.

   • Unlike the failed charge at the Nek, the assault at Lone Pine was well-coordinated, catching many Turkish soldiers off-guard in trenches or shelters.

2. Challenges in Trench Combat:

   • Australians faced unexpected obstacles as the Turkish trenches were roofed with logs and soil.

   • Soldiers had to either drop through gaps or lift off logs to gain entry, although many bypassed covered areas to attack from the rear.

While initially successful, the Australians endured relentless counter-attacks and severe fighting in narrow trenches filled with casualties.

The diversionary attack cost over 2,000 Australian lives, with Turkish losses exceeding 6,000. The intense combat and harrowing conditions made Lone Pine a lasting symbol of Australian courage and sacrifice, resonating throughout the remainder of World War I.

As the Battle of Lone Pine began, Turkish troops had already cut down nearby pines to fortify their trenches, leaving only one tree standing on Lone Pine ridge. This lone tree was destroyed during the fierce fighting, but it gave the battleground its name and became a lasting symbol of the Anzac spirit. The battle, one of the bloodiest of the Gallipoli campaign, remains significant in Australian history.

Our tree at CSC was grown from one of these seeds, but this is not our first tree, the first tree was replanted from the previous school, Colac College but did not survive the rebuilding of the school so we were lucky enough to receive this replacement. This tree is planted between the Year 9 and the performing arts building, you pass it on the way to P.E.