100th Anzac commemorations: Gallipoli trek began as a mission to discover rich family heritage

The Herald is publishing video diaries to mark the Gallipoli centenary. This week, the stories of residents with strong ties to the bloody conflict.

Rachael Alp's great-grandfather was one of the first people to enlist for active service at the High Commission in London. Acland Withiel Thomas was in England when the war broke out and was eager to do his bit for New Zealand.

The young Epsom-raised architect and civil engineer was assigned to the British Section of the New Zealand Field Engineers - the unit responsible for building bridges and defensive positions and clearing debris and enemy explosives from dugouts and trenches.

On April 29, 1915, while transporting water to troops on Gallipoli's front line, Acland was hit by a bullet. He suffered a fractured right thigh and left wrist and was deemed unfit for duty. He was one of the first wounded soldiers to arrive back in New Zealand in July 1915, but in August 1916 he was declared fit enough to return to service in France.

Mrs Alp is travelling to Gallipoli with her husband and has dedicated the trip to her mother. She has spent years researching her mother's side of the family and said the centenary would be a great opportunity to further what she knew about her great-grandfather.

"My grandmother died at a young age and my mother did not know a lot about her family - this encouraged me to embark on a mission to find out more of my family heritage," she said.

Mrs Alp said the centenary would be emotional for her.

She was prepared for the arduous trekking over the peninsula and being outside overnight in the lead-up to the Dawn Service.

"It's one night. Those soldiers spent hours and days and weeks out there in the open with no shelter. So yes, I can do it for one night I'm sure."