The AIF Project

The Lone Pine Memorial, situated in the Lone Pine Cemetery at Anzac, is the main Australian Memorial on Gallipoli, and one of four memorials to men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Designed by Sir John Burnet, the principal architect of the Gallipoli cemeteries, it is a thick tapering pylon 14.3 metres high on a square base 12.98 metres wide. It is constructed from limestone mined at Ilgardere in Turkey.

The Memorial commemorates the 3268 Australians and 456 New Zealanders who have no known grave and the 960 Australians and 252 New Zealanders who were buried at sea after evacuation through wounds or disease. The names of New Zealanders commemorated are inscribed on stone panels mounted on the south and north sides of the pylon, while those of the Australians are listed on a long wall of panels in front of the pylon and to either side. Names are arranged by unit and rank.

The Memorial stands over the centre of the Turkish trenches and tunnels which were the scene of heavy fighting during the August offensive. Most cemeteries on Gallipoli contain relatively few marked graves, and the majority of Australians killed on Gallipoli are commemorated here.

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli

Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli, 27 August 1915.

Reported missing, 27 August 1915.

Court of Enquiry, held at Fricourt, France, 9 April 1917, concluded: 'Previously reported "MISSING", now "KILLED IN ACTION", 27 August 1915'.

Statement, Red Cross File No 00104016, 401 Pte J.W. CUTTING, A Company, 17th Bn (patient, 1st Australian General Hospital, Heliopolis, Cairo), 30 December 1915: 'Informant was in the reserve at the charge on 27.8.15. Men coming back from the charge the same evening reported that Abbott, who was bomb thrower, landed in the Turks' trench, but was killed almost at once. Informant knew Abbott (who came from North Sydney) well, and they volunteered together from the 18th battalion to reinforce the 17th battalion.'

Second statement, 213 Corporal J.I. FOOTE, 17th Bn (patient, Luna Park Hospital, Heliopolis, Cairo), 21 December 1915: 'Witness knew Abbott personally. He knows that he took part in the charge on Aug. 28. He missed him on the following day. In informant's opinion there is no chance of his having been taken prisoner.'

Third statement, 400 Pte C.I. CROWLEY, A Company, 17th Bn (patient, Ghezira Hospital, Cairo), 5 January 1916: 'Informant says he knew Abbott well, and was in the same tent with him in the camp at Liverpool, N.S.W. before they left Australia. They transferred together from the 18th Battalion to the 17th, and were both at Anzac, and in a charge supporting the 18th battalion on 27.8.15. After he came back from this charge, informant missed Abbott, and made particular enquiries about him. He was told by as man called Page [303 Pte Stanley PAGE](since killed), one of the same company, that he had seen Abbott fall, hit in the thigh, and that was the last Page saw of him.'

Fourth statement, 268 Pte R.C. McLEAN, A Company, 17th Bn (patient, Al Hayat Convalescent Home, Helouan, Cairo), 12 January 1916: 'Witness says that on 27.8.15 his company made a charge in support of the 13th Battalion. Abbott was in that charge, and so also was the witness. Witness knew Abbott, and during the charge he saw him lying on the ground apparently dead. they had to retire and no one was brought in except Lieut. Gombert who was killed quite close to our trench. He never saw or heard more of Abbott.'

Fifth statement, 187 Sergeant K.B. CHISHOLM, 17th Bn (patient, 4th Australian General Hospital, Randwick, NSW), 8 May 1916: 'On 27th August Abbott took part in the charge against Hill 60. Informant was near Abbott, and saw him hit and fall between ours and the Turkish trenches. He attempted to rise but did not succeed. Informant did not see him again. Abbott was young (about 19), dark and short.'

Sixth statement, 423 Sergeant J.G. MEEK, A company, 17th Bn, 9 February 1917 ['A very careful reliable witness.']: I knew Abbott well - his name was "Jimmy" - he was in A Company, I think in 2 Platoon. He had been with me at Liverpool and we transferred to the 17th Battalion on 9.5.15 and shared the same tent. I was with his brother at Rabaul. He was about 5 ft. 5 or 6 inches, very dark, slim built, large nose, and was called "Darkie", and came from North Sydney. I was with him in the charge on 27.8.15 on the "Pivot" on the extreme left from quinn's Post, near Suvla Bay, when he was shot through the heart before we got to the first Turkish trench. I saw him hit - he was killed instantly. We had to retire to our own trench and could see his body lying about 50-60 yards in front of our trenches. I am absolutely positive it was Jimmy Abbott ...'