But one family managed a miraculous stroke of luck when all eight brothers returned home from World War I – relatively unscathed.

On the centenary of the Armistice signing, East Maitland’s Robin Cotton remembers the remarkable story of his father – Benjamin Cotton – who was one of those eight brothers who returned home.

“It’s unheard of. They all returned home after serving in the war – all eight of them,” Mr Cotton said.

At the tender age of 19, Benjamin Cotton left his home in Highworth, a small town in south-west England, to make his fortune in Australia.

He found a job in Branxton as a night officer of railways.

But conflict broke out, and Benjamin was keen to do his part for the war effort.

He enlisted in the 34^th Battalion, which formed in January 1916 at a camp established at the Maitland showground.

Corporal Cotton joined the ranks in February 1916 and after six months’ basic training, the battalion was shipped out to France.

He wasn’t the only Cotton joining the war effort, with his seven brothers back home enlisting in the British Army.

For the next two years, Corporal Cotton would call the trenches home before being transferred in the final months of the Great War.

As the battle wound down, Corporal Cotton was transferred to the Australian Army Postal Corps where he was responsible for managing correspondence to and from the trenches.

Following the Armistice signing, a special family reunion was arranged by the British War Office with all eight Cotton boys and their parents.

Mr and Mrs Cotton also received a commendation letter from King George V and Queen Mary.

It is believed the Cottons are one of the largest families to have all served and return home unharmed.

Following time with his family, Corporal Cotton returned to Branxton and serviced in the voluntary defence corps during World War II.

In 1921, he married Margaret Cotton. For the next 22 years, he ran the a store and mail run at Branxton before retiring.