Dannevirke: Chunuk Bair recalled with Lone Pine planting

Roly Ellis (left), Allan Toxward and Denis Tatere get to work planting a Lone Pine seedling at the Dannevirke Cenotaph on Saturday morning on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Chunuk Bair. Photo / Christine McKay

On August 8, 1915, New Zealand troops faced the blazing sun and dust everywhere but, on Saturday, the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Chunuk Bair was held in bitterly cold rain at Dannevirke's Cenotaph.

At a short ceremony, during which the first of two Lone Pine seedlings was planted, Roly Ellis, the president of the Dannevirke and District RSA, reminded those braving the elements of the sacrifices made by the Kiwi troops 100 years ago.

Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Malone of the 7th Wellington Regiment, the troops captured Chunuk Bair, but not before Malone refused to obey orders to go forward in daylight, instead he mounted the attack at night.

"He's reported as saying it would have been sheer suicide to make the advance during the day," Mr Ellis said. "That decision meant the Wellington Battalion was the only one in the entire brigade to arrive at the battle intact and he'd saved lives by doing it."

However, once taken, Chunuk Bair was a difficult position to hold and, as the sun rose, the Turkish soldiers on a neighbouring hill were able to focus their guns on the Wellington Battalion's position.

"The Turks mounted several attacks on the Wellingtons and Malone remained in constant action, leading several bayonet charges," Mr Ellis said. "However in the early evening of August 8, 1915, Malone was killed."

Malone, along with 300 of his men, have no known graves. A sobering and sad thought, said Dannevirke RSA member Kathryn Mulinder.

Mr Ellis said it was special to have the 7th Wellington Battalion beret worn by two Dannevirke men at the service on Saturday. Allan Toxward and Denis Tatere are now executive members of the Dannevirke RSA.

"We had ordinary soldiers go from Dannevirke in 1915 and into the Battle of Chunuk Bair, never to return again," Mr Ellis said.

The Dannevirke and Districts RSA were fortunate to acquire two of the 50 Lone Pine seedlings, with one planted at the Cenotaph and the other at the Mangatera Cemetery.