With the outbreak of World War I, hundreds of Guildford men answered the call and left their families and homes to fight for their country on the other side of the world.

Many of them never returned.

Now, about 100 years later, the current residents of Guildford are recognising the heroics of their civic forebears.

They have identified the homes of the Guildford Diggers — and the house from which many of them left to go to war — and will present the new owners with a distinctive “poppy plaque” to display.

The commemoration project — which will be officially launched later this month — is being organised by the Guildford Association, a local ratepayer group, and partly funded from a Federal Government grant.

Association executive and project coordinator Barbara Dundas said Guildford was the most “in tact” of all of WA’s first settlements.

She said there were many layers to the history of the town and the Anzac legend was just one.

“Using the town’s two war memorials and various honour rolls, we have found about 630 soldiers who lived in Guildford,” Mrs Dundas said.

“And from there, we have identified about 100 homes of these soldiers that are still standing and being lived in.

“It has been a big project but it has captured a significant part of Guildford and its social history.”

As part of initiative, each identified home will become part of an Anzac walk trail around the town. A website is also being developed that will provide the military history of each of the Guildford Diggers.

The impact of the war on Guildford is most evident in Turton Street, a relatively small street that has retained much of its 19th Century heritage feel.

Soldiers from five homes have been identified as enlisted WWI soldiers, including the three sons of former Surveyor-General Frederick-Slade Drake-Brockman and his wife Grace.

Two of the sons, Edmund and Geoffrey, were part of the initial Gallipoli landing on April 25, 1915.

Grace (nee Bussell) was known as “Grace Darling of WA” after her heroic efforts in helping to rescue about 50 people from the wrecked ship Georgette near Busselton in 1876.

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The Turton Street heroes

Number One: James Jeffery Dixon stayed in this home, which was rented by his brother Thomas. He enlisted and was sent to Victoria for training. But he contracted spinal meningitis and died without seeing active overseas service.

Number Four: Former Guildford Grammar School student Robert Calder Crowther joined the 10th Lighthorse and fought at Gallipoli. After contracting measles and an irritability of the heart, he returned to WA for a rest. He went back in to service in Egypt and was promoted to lieutenant. After contracting sciatic problems, he returned to WA.

Number Eleven: Explorer Frederick Slade Drake-Brockman and his wife Grace lived in this home known as “Vernon” from 1899. Three sons served with distinction in World War I — Captain Karl Edgar returned wounded, Major Geoffery Slade received a Military Cross and Brigadier Edmund Alfred was decorated for bravery and received an order of St Michael and St George.

Number Thirteen: Three sons from the Terry family left to fight. Donald Kenyon Terry was 24 when he enlisted and was wounded in action at Pozieres, France. His brother’ Marmaduke Ross was killed in action at Pozieres, aged 22. Lieutenant Norman Leonard was wounded at Messines, France and later received a Military Medal for bravery.’ The Terry’s aunt (Grace Drake-Brockman) lived next door and they also attended Guildford Grammar.

Number Fourteen: Alfred Ernest Edward Castle was 21 when he enlisted and joined the 28th Battalion. He served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He was wounded in the final weeks of the war and returned to WA. He was awarded a distinguished conduct medal for his actions at Pozieres.

– KENT ACOTT (The West Australian, 21 August 2015)