Discover the incredibly powerful and moving stories of the Anzac kids who lied about their age to fight in the First World War- a unique and deeply personal side of history told here for the first time more than one hundred years on.

Join us for the author talk with Paul Byrnes on Tuesday 26th November at Orange City Library at 5.30pm – 7pm about the untold stories of under-age soldiers in The Lost Boys. 

This event is supported by Collins Booksellers. Please book your place online via eventbrite or call the Library on 6393 8132.

It’s History Week and this year’s theme is The Great War. Researchers at Orange City Library are hard at work delving into the stories of the WWI servicemen and women from the area and posting their findings on the Centenary of WWI blog http://www.centenaryww1orange.com.au/

To date they have identified 1, 827 local service men and women, 209 of whom failed to return home, having being killed in action or died of disease. There were 25 women from the area who served as nurses, and at least seven indigenous service men.

The Centenary of World War I in Orange project is being led by a community committee which includes representatives from Orange City Council, Central West Libraries, the Orange and District RSL, sub-branch and the local community.

Discover the story of the Powter brothers on our WWI Blog. Ernest Lachlan Powter was born in Orange on 9 March 1900, the second son of Jabez Langley Powter and Catherine Laurie Powter. In September 1915 Ernest was 15 years old and working as a junior clerk, when, claiming to be 18, he enlisted. Ernest is the youngest known recruit from Orange to enlist in WWI. Indeed, a fellow soldier described Ernest as “just a slight slip of a boy, with rather a girlish face.”

Special guests at tonight’s (Wednesday 27 August) Orange and District Historical Society monthly History Alive Talk are Central West Libraries Librarian Trudi Mayfield and local author of The Unknown ANZACS Michael Caulfield. The topic is WWI and Trudi will talk about her ongoing research for the Centenary of WWI in Orange website which showcases the stories of men and women from the district who enlisted and served in WWI. Visit the website: http://www.centenaryww1orange.com.au/

The WWI History Talk will be held at the Orange Senior Citizens Centre (entry from Woolworths carpark) at 7pm for 7.30pm start. Light refreshments will be served with a $5 entry fee to cover costs. To RSVP please call 6362 8647.

Photo courtesy: CWD Negative Collection, Orange and District Historical Society.

Anzac Day commemorates the landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) soldiers at a small cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, on 25 April 1915.

When World War One broke out in 1914, Australia had been a federal commonwealth for just 13 years and was eager to establish its standing among the nations of the world. Newly elected Labor Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, pledged 20,000 Australian troops to support Britain in the war. These men formed the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and became part of the proposed Gallipoli campaign, the aim of which was to capture the Gallipoli peninsula and open the Dardanelles, thus uniting the Allies and providing access to the Turkish capital, Constantinople.

Read more about the 1,816 servicemen and women who signed up from Orange and the surrounding district on our WWI  blog http://www.centenaryww1orange.com.au/

We will remember them