22-year-old South Australian Alex Hibbard will honour his late father and represent Legacy at the Battle of Lone Pine centenary commemoration in Turkey this week.

The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Martin Hamilton-Smith said a bi-partisan parliamentary and veteran delegation will also pay tribute to the more than 2,000 Australian casualties sustained at Lone Pine.

“The Battle of Lone Pine was the last allied offensive of the Gallipoli campaign. More than 300 diggers were found in an area no bigger than three tennis courts,” Mr Hamilton-Smith said.

“Designed to break the stalemate that had occurred on the Gallipoli Peninsula since the landings on 25 April 1915, the Lone Pine offensive from 6-10 August saw some of the most brutal fighting of the campaign.

“Gallipoli holds particular significance for South Australians.

“B and C Companies of the 10th Battalion, raised in South Australia, were part of the covering force for the landings and among the first ashore on 25 April 1915.

The 9th Light Horse Regiment, also raised in South Australia, was in reserve for the Lone Pine offensive tasked with providing supporting fire at the Nek. The Regiment lost its Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Albert Miell, at the Nek.”

More than 8,000 Australian soldiers died during the eight months of the Gallipoli campaign.

22-year-old Alex Hibbard who lost his father, Squadron Leader Gregory Hibbard as a result of service to his country, said he is honoured to represent Legacy at Lone Pine.

“I am going to visit the graves of soldiers from across the state, to honour the service and sacrifice of those whose names are recorded there,” Mr Hibbard said.

“I owe Legacy so much for the support it has provided my family. Representing Legacy at Lone Pine means representing the families of the South Australian soldiers who were lost during the Gallipoli campaign and all of the families who have been supported by Legacy since it was founded. I am forever grateful to Legacy.”

The Lone Pine commemoration follows a visit by 22 South Australian school children who represented the state at the Anzac Day dawn service in Turkey.

For further information on the Anzac Centenary visit www.anzaccentenary.sa.gov.au/