Kooringal High School head teacher Paul Mowbray trekked to Gallipoli in 2006.

He was mortified to discover his relative, Jack Mowbray, was killed in a mine explosion on his birthday.

Since then he has felt an eerie connection with Jack.

“Jack was a miner from Newcastle and his skills were put to use on the Gallipoli peninsular.

“The circumstances of his death were passed on to my grandfather by some of Jack’s mates and he in turn passed on the story to the rest of my family.

When Mr Mowbray's student Matthew Crouch, 17, received a ticket to the 100^th Anzac Dawn Service in Gallipoli, Mr Mowbray asked him a favour.

He asked Matthew to take the handmade red cross with him on his journey.

Matthew did not have to think twice.

“I was pretty honoured,” Matthew said.

“My heart started beating faster and I felt emotional and really proud.”

Matthew, who has always been more interested in economics than history, said establishing a personal connection with Gallipoli whetted his appetite for history.

“If we don’t acknowledge our past we won’t learn from it,” Matthew said.

Matthew’s great-grandfather was shot twice in Gallipoli, went on to fight in World War II.

“He was shot twice, basically to the day – the first time was on October 4 1917 and the second was October 4 1918.” 

Mr Mowbray hopes the cross, a permanent symbol of his appreciation, will be there when his children and grand-children visit the site. 

“(On my previous trip) we left poppies,” Mr Mowbray said.

“But lamented that we did not have something more permanent to leave.

“We hope that this act of visiting the cemetery gives you the same sense of ownership of the Anzac spirit that we had on our visit.” 

Mr Mowbray’s grandfather Thomas survived the horrors of the Western front, and lived until 97.

Matthew said the idea of travelling Gallipoli was surreal.

“I don’t think I’ll realise the significance of it until sometime after.”