The Millicent-based South East Family History Group will focus on two local World War I soldiers when it holds its next meeting on April 27.

It is a long custom of the SEFHG to focus on war service and sacrifice around Anzac Day each year.

SEFHG president Noel Boyle has a copy of a war-time letter from the front line sent home to Millicent by Private Ernest Albert Gurney.

He referenced a number of other locals in the correspondence and Mr Boyle has researched them all.

They include Military Medal recipient Sergeant Harry Brimage who was later killed in action.

After the war, Private Gurney returned to Millicent where he married and raised a family of four sons and one daughter.

He died in 1954 at the age of 63 and is buried at Millicent.

Meanwhile, SEFHG member Kathy Gandolfi will explain her successful search for a photograph of fallen World War I soldier Private Percy Lewis Butterworth.

An image could not be located a few years ago when the SEFHG published a book with details of all fallen soldiers whose names appear on war memorials in the Wattle Range Council area.

Private Butterworth also volunteered to serve overseas with the Australian Imperial Force.

He embarked at Melbourne, Victoria aboard HMAT Ulysses on October 25, 1916.

Private Butterworth was a member of the 13th Australian Machine Gun Company.

He was killed in action in France on April 2, 1917 and has no known grave.

As a sad coincidence, his nephew had the same name and rank and was also killed on active service.

He was serving with the Second A.I.F. in Syria in 1941 during World War II.