This tiny hamlet saw 50 of its young men volunteering for overseas service. Just two young men remained in the district, one due to already having four brothers serving and one due to illness.

Of the 50 who served, 13 lost their lives and 37 returned home, some with injuries which would affect them and their families for the rest of their lives.

They were the sons and grandsons of pioneering families, blacksmiths, labourers, orchardists and farmers.

Each soldier's story is told through family recollections, diaries, photos, postcards, letters and articles in local newspapers as well as their war service records. The book tells of bravery awards to some courageous young men, injuries and deaths, and the impact the war had on the local community.

Ms Beattie - nee Howells - now lives in Geelong but family members still live in the Mount Cole area with their history stretching back to 1868, and her great grandmother laid the foundation stone for the War Memorial.

The book has been a labour of love and took two and a half years to complete, however Ms Beattie is no stranger to history books, having written a book on the Mount Cole history 25 years ago with a friend.

When looking at the war history of the district she found there were many missing pieces.

"Looking through the history books there were lots of people missing from it," she said.

"It took a lot of research, I had to track it all down, and some of the descendants are in their 80s and 90s now.

"There was a correspondent from Warrak who wrote for the Ararat Advertiser during the war, a lot of war letters were printed in the Advertiser which have given me good leads too and more and more people came to the fore with letters."

Like many other communities the losses affected every family in this close knit district in one way or another.

There was Mrs Howells writing to the Army to ask permission for her foster son to come home in February, before heading overseas, as there was no one to help pick the fruit in her orchard, and another family whose loss of their only son is blamed for the early death of his father and their relocation from the district.

There were cricket, football and tennis teams which no longer had any members.

Some of the families of the soldiers remain in the district, while others had to be traced and their connection to the district re-established. Four of the soldiers on the Honour Board were born in Ballarat and they are honoured in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

As well the book covers the efforts of the local community to raise funds and deliver some home comforts to the young men serving overseas. Also included are memorial services and welcome home gatherings.

The Mount Cole District Honour Boards are quite unique as they are in two large photo frames, one for those who died in conflict and the other for those who served. Both are accompanied by a photograph of the soldier with his name, rank and battalion.

The book is full of stories - stories of heroism, hardship and tragedy.

"But there are no real highlights, every one soldier has his own story, it is hard to pick out one," Ms Beattie said.

"I've tried to make it about them as people, not the battles fought in this area or that area."

The book will be launched in the Warrak Hall on Sunday March 15 at 1.30pm.

Those wishing to attend, or who would like further information, can contact Margaret Beattie on 5278 5225 or beattiemarg@hotmail.com