Abigail is off to Gallipoli

Abigail May, 16, will travel to Turkey for the 100th annual Anzac commemorations in Gallipoli. Photo / Supplied

At 16 her grandfather went to war, at the same age Abigail May looks back through the history books.

A trip to Turkey will be an eye-opener for the Woodford House student whose way with words earned her a seat at 100-year celebrations on Gallipoli Peninsula. She boards a plane to Turkey on April 9 for the journey of a lifetime.

Through support from New Zealand Defence Force, all eight regional finalists of the annual ANZ RSA Cyril Bassett VC Speech Competition can attend - an opportunity previously extended to the overall winner.

Each had to pen a six to eight-minute speech on "New Zealanders in World War I" and wowed judges with their tales.

The competition was a tribute to Cyril Bassett VC (1892-1983) - the only Kiwi to be awarded the Victoria Cross at Gallipoli and who worked his entire career at the National Bank, now ANZ New Zealand.

Abigail will stand on the shore where her great, great grandfather fought in WWI with others hailing from his small South Island home town of Mayfair.

He was fortunate to have returned home with many of his closest comrades.

She also recalls her grandfather's tales from WWII - where he was part of a team clearing away mines planted by enemy submarines. He was just 16 at the time but his father had allowed him to enlist early.

"He has been very open about it, the grandchildren have all heard a lot of stories over time ... I don't think I would have entered had I not had my family as inspiration," she says.

A national competition on March 12 saw all the finalists travel to Government House where they competed for a national title and had afternoon tea with the Governor General.

It was here she realised just how incredible the trip would be. "I'm really looking forward to tours of the actual site, as I have had family members there - to be able to stand where they stood will be very moving."

They will be travelling with the defence force as an "official party" meaning they get to take part in the Anzac ceremony.