Monday (October 13) was the 90th anniversary of the death of my great-uncle James Daniel Gorey.

Jim was my grandfather Michael’s youngest brother.

I’m disappointed with myself for missing the anniversary before now. With commemorations looming for the 90th anniversary of some famous battles on the Somme, and of course the Armistice, my mind is getting back to reflect on the First World War and my family’s contribution.

A journalist from the Shepparton News, Darren Linton, contacted me this week, having discovered material I published online.

He found it a compelling story that five brothers had their lives changed by war, and in Jim’s case ended.

I’m glad Darren said that, because he’s reviewing the material dispassionately from a distance.

When writing the family history some years ago I found the war to be the biggest influence on the lives of my great-grandparents’ children and subsequent generations.

Overall it was a negative influence, I believe. We ended up losing the family farm and all the boys had to start from scratch after their lives had been shattered in one way or another.

Jim enlisted when he was 20 years old and never married or had children.

I feel a connection with him and his legacy is a reason why I named my second son James, along with my uncle Jim, who served in the Second World War and also died without children.

I will never forget them.