Orange 1st/19th Battalion Lone Pine

1st/19th Battalion Headquarters, with assistance from Orange RSL sub-Branch, received a donated Lone Pine Tree from Orange City Council. The tree is a descendant from the Lone Pine at the Australian War Memorial, which is linked back to the Lone Pine at Gallipoli.

The tree was planted at Romani Barracks by Commanding Officer LtCol. Biddington and City of Orange Mayor Jason Hamling. The ground was also blessed and after planting the tree was blessed by the 1st/19th Battalion, the Royal New South Wales Regiment Padre. The MC for the ceremony Warrant Officer Class One Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) Jason Jackson. 

The Lone Pine holds significant importance to Australian soldiers as it is a symbol of their bravery and sacrifice during the Gallipoli campaign of First World War. The Battle of Lone Pine took place between 6-10 August 1915, during which Australian soldiers captured a strategically important Turkish trench system located on a plateau in Gallipoli, Turkey.

The name 'Lone Pine' refers to a solitary pine tree that stood in the area of the battle. Despite being heavily damaged during the fighting, the tree survived and became a symbol of hope for the Australian soldiers, who saw it as a sign of their resilience and determination in the face of adversity.

The significance of the Lone Pine continued long after the war ended. In the years following the battle, pine cones from the tree were sent back to Australia by soldiers as a symbol of remembrance. Seedlings grown from these cones were planted in memorials across the country, including at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Today, the Lone Pine is remembered as a symbol of the sacrifice and courage of the Australian soldiers, and it remains an important part of Australian military history.