A Tauranga Girls’ College student has been awarded a rare international scholarship that will take her to Turkey to commemorate Anzac history and explore her own family’s connection to World War I.

Lexie Knight was recently named one of three recipients nationwide of the AFS Gallipoli Youth Award 2026, a prestigious programme run by AFS Intercultural Programmes New Zealand.

The award offers students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deepen their understanding of history, culture and international perspectives.

Three of Lexie Knight's great-great uncles — Herbert, George and Douglas Knight — served in World War I. Photo / David Hall

As part of the award, Knight will travel to Turkey for three weeks in April 2026, where she will stay with host families, participate in cultural activities and attend the Anzac Day service on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Great-great uncles

Knight was selected for the award after producing an outstanding research project exploring her family’s history and its links to Gallipoli. Three of her great-great uncles – Herbert, George and Douglas Knight – served in World War I.

Herbert Knight was only 20 years old when he died during the second battle of Krithia at Cape Helles, Gallipoli. Photo / Supplied

Herbert and George enlisted as soon as war broke out in 1914 and were in the Otago Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements.

They both fought in the Gallipoli campaign, where Herbert died volunteering to bury a mule killed near a hospital station on May 8, 1915. George was wounded twice at Gallipoli and returned both times knowing the horrors he would face.

He then went on to fight in France, and was killed at Passchendaele on October 12, 1917, trying to communicate the order to retreat to his men.

Second lieutenant George Knight was put in command of the 8th Southland company, 2nd battalion, Otago infantry regiment during the battle of Passchendaele.

Douglas Knight served in the Auckland Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion and died in the last battle of the Somme on September 1, 1918.

Through detailed research, including reading original letters and historical texts, Knight pieced together their experiences and the lasting impact their service has had on her family.

“It was very interesting learning about my family and all the different experiences they went through,” Knight said.

“Reading their letters was very cool, and I learned heaps of new things I didn’t know before.”

Careful research

She said much of the information required careful research, as not everything was well recorded at the time.

“I had to read a lot of books and put pieces together around dates and events,” she said.

Douglas Knight was attached to the 6th Hauraki Company, Auckland regiment in the Lewis gun section. He was notably the only man in his team to master operating captured German machine guns. He died on September 1, 1918, while trying to bring back a wounded corporal. Photo / Supplied

Now in Year 11, Knight has long held an interest in history and said the opportunity to visit Gallipoli is especially meaningful.

“I’ve been interested in this stuff since I was really little, so it will be super cool to actually go and see the places I’ve read about and learn lots more,” she said.

The award covered a significant portion of the costs associated with the exchange, including programme organisation and activities – although recipients also needed to contribute. Knight was currently planning fundraising activities to help cover remaining expenses.

AFS New Zealand said the Gallipoli Youth Award reflects the organisation’s long-standing mission to promote peace and understanding through intercultural learning.

Founded in 1914 as the American Field Service, a volunteer ambulance corps during the world wars, AFS later shifted its focus to student exchange programmes and had been operating in New Zealand since 1947.

Tauranga Girls’ College Yr 11 student Lexie Knight has received an AFS Gallipoli Youth Award 2026. Photo / David Hall.

The 2026 programme would be delivered in partnership with AFS Türkiye, with support from the AFS Educational Trust and the Michael Jull Memorial Trust.

Very special

For Knight, the experience is about more than travel.

“It’s very special to be able to go learn about different cultures and see global history from a different perspective,” she said.