Special seedling commemorates the centenary of the Gallipoli landings

A special tree, descended from the Lone Pine at Gallipoli, will be planted in Christchurch to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landings during World War 1.

Christchurch City Council plans to plant seven memorial trees over the next three years to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of important World War 1 events. The Gallipoli tree is the first of these.

While the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings is 25 April, the tree, a Turkish red pine or Pinus brutia and a native of Turkey, will be planted on Poppy Day, Friday 17 April 2015.

It will be planted in the Park of Remembrance, near the Bridge of Remembrance, and members of the public are welcome to attend the midday ceremony.

Crown Research Institute Scion has been raising 40 of the seedlings at its research nursery in Rotorua and Christchurch-based Science Researcher Alan Leckie was instrumental in bringing one to the city.

Mayor Lianne Dalziel says the commemorative trees are part of the Council's involvement in WW100, a nationwide series of events commemorating the centenary of World War 1 (1914 to 1918). CERA has worked closely with the Council to identify locations within the Te Papa Ōtākaro/Avon River Precinct to plant the trees.

Memorial trees will also be planted to mark the following national commemorations:

• Centenary of the Battle of the Somme (France), 15 September 2016
• Centenary of the Battle of Messines (Ieper, Belgium), 7 June 2017
• Centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele (Belgium), 12 October 2017
• Centenary of the Battle of Beersheba (Israel), 31 October 2017
• Centenary of the Liberation of Le Quesnoy (France), 4 November 2018
• Centenary of Armistice Day, 11 November 2018.

"World War 1 was one of the most significant events of the 20th century and had a profound effect on New Zealand society. New Zealand contributed 124,000 soldiers to World War 1 from a population of just one million. Approximately 18,000 did not survive and 40,000 others were injured. In all, millions of soldiers and civilians from over 50 countries lost their lives in the war," Lianne Dalziel says.

"The service and sacrifice of so many needs to be commemorated and the lessons of World War 1 need to be remembered. We feel very privileged to receive this special tree and want to thank Scion for giving this tree to Christchurch," the Mayor says.

At 6am on ANZAC Day a parade will form on Armagh Street, outside the new RSA clubrooms, and march to Cranmer Square for a dawn service. This will be followed by a Citizens' Service at the Transitional Cathedral at 10am.

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