Peter Johnston and his wife Elaine set sail on a cruise from Fremantle on Thursday, March 26 and will be in Turkey to watch the centenary celebrations. 

The couple have since contacted the News Weekly to inform us of their safe arrival and to describe the atmosphere around Lone Pine cemetery. 

"Lone Pine was a very popular location and virtually all the graves had Poppies and Australian flags, many poppies were those knitted back home," Mrs Johnston said.

"Bill Schwensen of Tura Beach asked me to place a poppy in honour of his great uncle, Victor Clark, who died at Gallipoli, we were able to find his name on a panel recording those soldiers who have no known grave.  We left a poppy and flag to mark the occasion."

Mr Johnston, who used to be in the Australian Army, has a strong connection to the Anzacs as four of his great uncles fought at different locations in World War I, including one uncle, John Thomas Moroney, who serve as a member of the Ford Field ambulance at Gallipol. 

Three of his grandmother’s brothers lived through the war, however one brother, Michael Edward (Eddie) Moroney did not survive. 

Eddie Moroney was sent to France and was killed at Bullecourt in 1917. 

When Eddie’s parents hadn’t heard from him for a long time they were determined to find out what had happened to their beloved son so they sent letters to many different agencies and in 1918 they received an official reply from the Australian Red Cross. 

The letter contained a statement made to them by Private A S Tighe telling them of their son’s death. 

“I saw him killed at Bullecourt. He was hit about the shoulder with shell fragments, death was instantaneous. I knew him very well, he was the only man of that name in the Company. We lost the ground, which was not retained until a few days later, so I do not know place of burial, and cannot refer to anyone for details.”

His body was not found until 1921. 

Eddie’s identity disc was returned to his family and then passed down the generations. It now lives safely in Peter Johnston’s collection along with the Gallipoli medallion which was issued to Mr Johnston’s father in 1967 on behalf of Eddie's brother, John Thomas Moroney who served with the ambulance at Gallipoli.  

Peter and Elaine have been planning this trip for a long time. 

“We booked this trip about five years ago,” Mr Johnston said. 

“Because we booked the cruise and trip so long ago we didn’t have to worry about the big Anzac Day ballot.”

This will be the second time the couple have celebrated Anzac Day at Gallipoli after having attended the ceremony in 2008.