Anzac: Ned Gaffney shares his ancestor’s Gallipoli diary with Churchie classmates

A BRISBANE primary school pupil has shared his great-great uncle’s Gallipoli war diary with his class mates as they learn about the Anzac’s history.

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A BRISBANE primary school student has shared his great-great uncle’s Gallipoli war diary with his class mates as they learn about the Anzac’s history.

Year 6 Churchie student Ned Gaffney read extracts from William “Arthur” O’Brien’s diary, which details his journey to Gallipoli.

Mr O’Brien was killed in action on May 11, 1915, two weeks after arriving on the Gallipoli battle fields.

To commemorate 100 years since the Anzac landing at Gallipoli, and recognise the sacrifices of those men and women who have served out country since WWI, Quest Community Newspapers will publish one story each day online in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

Ned said his classmates were interested to hear the war time stories.

“They asked questions about how the ships sunk and how they died,” he said.

“I’m really proud because he was back there fighting for his country.”

Ned’s mum Jacqueline Armitstead said she felt a strong family connection when she read the diary for the first time.

“It was very emotional,” she said.

“It really made me connect with him as a relative. My mother said her mother cried for him for year and years.”

Ms Armitstead said the diary detailed Mr O’Brien’s trip to Cairo to visit the pyramids before he was deployed to Gallipoli.

“From the time he enlisted it talks about all the farewells in Melbourne and all the things that happened on the boat and in Cairo,” she said.

The diary also details his time in Gallipoli.

THIS story is part of Quest Community Newspapers’ 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile Queensland WWI heroes and families as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during WWI, let us know on our Facebook page or email [e-mail]

Originally published as Anzac: Ned Gaffney shares his ancestor’s Gallipoli diary with Churchie classmates