Battle of Lone PinePrint Page

The pine tree commemorates those who lost their lives at the Battle of Lone Pine at Gallipoli during World War One. 

The Battle of Lone Pine was fought between Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and Ottoman Empire forces during the Gallipoli Campaign of the First World War, between 6 and 10 August 1915. The battle was part of a diversionary attack to draw Ottoman attention away from the main assaults being conducted by British, Indian and New Zealand troops around Sari Bair, Chunuk Bair and Hill 971, which became known as the August Offensive. 

On Tuesday 15 November, the Harbour Trust – in partnership with the Headland Preservation Group and Mosman RSL sub-Branch – held a tree planting ceremony at Georges Heights, Mosman to honour the casualties of the Gallipoli campaign.

The Governor of New South Wales – Her Excellency, the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC – planted the Aleppo pine tree (Pinus halepensis) as a sign of respect to those who fell during the Battle of Lone Pine at Gallipoli. Commemorative speeches were delivered by Ms Janet Carding (Executive Director, Harbour Trust), Mr Alan Toner (President, Mosman RSL sub-Branch) and Ms Jill L’Estrange (President, Headland Preservation Group).

The Battle of Lone Pine commenced on 6 August 1915, last four days. The conflict was named for the solitary pine tree that stood near the summit of the battlefield, and 2,277 Australians and 6,930 Turks were killed or wounded in total. For their decisive actions in the Battle of Lone Pine, seven Australians were awarded a Victoria Cross.

The pine tree planted at Georges Heights is a descendant of a pine cone that was collected from the battlefield by Lance Corporal Benjamin Smith and sent back home to his mother, Mrs Jane McMullin, who resided at Inverell in NSW. Benjamin and his brother, Private Mark Smith, were both involved in the capture of the Lone Pine positions; however, only Benjamin managed to return home.

The newly planted tree was gifted to the community by the Headland Preservation Group and Mosman RSL sub-Branch. It replaces another Lone Pine tree, which had been donated by Don Goodsir OAM and Phil Cannane, and planted along Best Avenue at Georges Heights in 2002. Ms Julie Goodsir – the Vice President of the Headland Preservation Group and the wife of the late Don Goodsir OAM – attended the ceremony as a representative of her association.

Georges Heights has a rich military history and, between 1916 and 1921, the area was the site of a large military hospital. Colloquially known as the ‘Hospital on the Hill’, it accommodated soldiers injured on the Western Front.
harbourtrust.com.au.

 

Location

Address:	Suakin Drive, Georges Head Lookout, Mosman, 2088
State:	NSW
Area:	AUS
GPS Coordinates:	Lat: -33.836391 Long: 151.258831 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.

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Details

Monument Type:	Tree
Monument Theme:	Conflict
Sub-Theme:	WW1
Actual Event Start Date:	06-August-1915
Actual Event End Date:	10 - August-1915

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:	Tuesday 15th November, 2022