At the time the military historian had been given a box of letters written by World War I soldiers and her heart began to break.

“I remember sitting in my loungeroom one afternoon and crying my eyes out while reading these letters because they really broke down the legend,” Mrs Fletcher said.

Early next month Mrs Fletcher – along with military writer John Gillam – will release Their Story - Service, Sacrifice and Community Support Part 1 - 1914-1915, a book revealing the timeline of fallen soldiers both at war and in the community they left behind.

“Putting this book together has been very taxing because you actually start to see things through their (the soldiers) eyes and that can be very demanding emotionally,” Mr Gillam, of Bolwarra, said.

“But completing this book has been a wonderful experience for us. When people start to read about the generosity and the self sacrifice of the people in our 

community I think it will be a profound experience for them.”

Both Fletcher and Gillam believe the historical tome provides an alternative view of the history of WWI.

“This book allows you to step away from the Anzac legend – of this faceless generic soldier,” Mrs Fletcher said.

“These men all had families, they all had loved ones who grieved for them and each one of them died a very different death.

“We’re really proud that the book has stayed true to the stories of these people.

“For 100 years these stories lay encased in the yellowing pages of the days newspapers, army 

personnel files and the faded photographs of men struggling to survive in a world so harsh and alien it was a miracle any survived at all.”

‘Their Story - Service, Sacrifice and Community Support Part 1 - 1914-1915’ will be launched at the Seaham School of Arts Hall on Saturday, August 2, at 10am.