THE first book comprehensively detailing the involvement of people living in Horsham and surrounds in the First World War has been completed in time for the Anzac centenary.
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The Horsham Historical Society presentation of the two-volume 800-page Strewth was researched and authored by John and Gillian Francis.
The book examines the experiences of men from the Horsham area who fought in the First World War.
Mrs Francis said the book featured the diaries and letters written on the battlefield.
"The diaries and letters are a real first-hand account taking you to the war - not just reading about it as some sort of abstract concept, but reading their actual words which makes you feel like you were there," she said.
"I can't tell you how many times I had tears in my eyes with the stories of the men."
Mrs Francis said format of the book was designed to illustrate the multi-faceted war effort at home and abroad.
"We wanted to show the affect on this community so we've put the men into the book based on the date of their death or decoration," she said.
"That means we are then able to show how particular battles affected this community and to that we've added their letters and their diaries so we can see how the battle was being fought by local men."
In addition, the book explores the social history of Wimmera life during the war including fundraising, German hysteria and political developments.
Mrs Francis said they attempted to lighten an unavoidably heavy subject by including humour used by the men who were fighting the war.
"The men did laugh and they used trench humour and black humour to relive some of the situations," she said.
Mr Francis said they uncovered many surprising and interesting stories which had been included in Strewth.
"We've got an instance of one man who in 1918 signed on to fight the Bolsheviks in Russia," he said.
"He was a Gallipoli veteran, he'd already won a military medal and was nominated for a second military medal but never received it in France and then he volunteered for this secret force to fight the Bolsheviks in Russia.
"When he eventually gets home here he started the Wimmera Machinery Field Days 50 years ago - remarkable man, a survivor."
Mrs Francis said Wimmera servicemen crossed paths with Lawrence of Arabia, Queen Victoria, and Donald Bradman - stories they have detailed in the book.
The completion of Strewth marks more than a year of painstaking research by the authors.
"It's been an extremely humbling and rewarding experience bringing these men back to life again through their stories," Mr Francis said.
Strewth: An Insight Into Local Involvement in World War One is available for $100 for the two-volume set.
Mr Francis said people could email kenflackhhs@gmail.com for more information.