Jack Stubbs saw his uncle’s Lone Pine sacrifice honoured on Thursday.
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A tree seeded from a Gallipoli pine was planted at the Creswick cenotaph for the 100th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Lone Pine.
Mr Stubbs said his uncle Frank Mason died on the second day of the pivotal fight, which happened to be his 21st birthday, and was buried on the peninsula.
“We went over and saw his grave about eight years ago,” he said.
“He lay there for a long time without anyone.”
Pupils from Creswick, Creswick North and Mt Blowhard primary schools helped plant the tree before the playing of the Last Post.
Creswick-Smeaton RSL secretary Phil Carter said Lone Pine, which lasted until August 9, took a huge toll on both sides.
“(Two thousands two hundred) Australians were killed, 7000 Turks were killed. The battle was terrible,” he said.
The Aleppo pine will be at the head of the cross display to be installed at the cenotaph later in the year, Mr Walsh said.
