Culture Street

To commemorate the Anzac Centenary New Frontier Publishing has released a special picture book based on the true story of a small boy’s visit to meet Alec Campbell in the year 2001.

Included in the The Last Anzac are letters written to loved ones from soldiers at Gallipoli. Below is a moving letter from Alec Campbell to his mother.

To James, Alec Campbell was a hero. The old man, the last living ANZAC, and all of the Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought at Gallipoli, were heroes – everyone’s heroes.

Alec, who died in May 2002 at the age of 103, enlisted in 1915 when he was just 16. He had put his age up to 18 in order to be accepted by the army and agreed to fight at the front, wherever he was needed. Heroic indeed!

James was very fortunate to meet Alec Campbell and find out about his experiences. He gives us a special view of this humble and remarkable man, the year before he died.

Illustrator Harriet Bailey graduated from Christchurch School of Art and Design with a Diploma in Visual Communications, and worked as a graphic designer. She now lives in Wellington and is freelancing and rediscovering her passion for illustration. Harriet thoroughly researched the history behind The Great War to ensure her illustrations in The Last Anzac reflect the time.