Students to set sail on Anzac voyage

Two Victoria University of Wellington students with World War I connections will represent New Zealand on board a square-rigged tall ship as dawn breaks at Gallipoli on Anzac Day.

Isabella Thompson and Rebecca McMenamin
Isabella Thompson and Rebecca McMenamin

Isabella Thompson and Bex McMenamin are two of three New Zealanders and 21 Australians selected to crew the Young Endeavour ship across the Mediterranean Sea on the third leg of its world voyage.

After a few weeks on the water, the Young Endeavour will sail to the Gallipoli Peninsula, anchoring for a dawn service on Anzac Day, along with Navy ships from Australia and New Zealand.

Both Isabella, who is studying toward a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, and Bex, a third year law and arts student, have personal connections to World War I—which was part of the criteria for New Zealanders to board the Young Endeavour.

Isabella’s great-great-grandfather fought in Gallipoli along with two great-great-uncles, one of whom died at Quinn’s Post. His name is on a memorial at Lone Pine Cemetery in Gallipoli.

Bex’s great-grandfather and his cousin arrived at Gallipoli and fought in World War I, then moved to Belgium where the cousin passed away.

“To be at the 100th anniversary commemoration of Gallipoli on Anzac Day is going to be really special,” says Bex, who is also looking forward to seeing the sun rise in different places and meeting new people. “The ship is a mini world. You are relying on each other all the time so you do form quite intense, strong friendships.”

Isabella is excited to get out on the water—“there is just something so cool about it,” she says.

The pair had met each other once and chatted online to arrange flights and then, by chance, ended up in the same Spanish class together.

“We will have to take our textbooks with us to keep on top of our uni work,” they say. “It’s going to be crazy, but so incredibly worth it.”