Late on Friday morning a few hundred students from the school gathered at the entrance to the grove for an Anzac service.

It was sobering to think that Australia's youngest Anzac, James Charles Martin - who blagged his way into the army aged 14 years and three months - only had a couple of years on some of the year 6 lads sitting in the park.

School captain Claire Anlezark gave a speech about her great-great-great uncle, private Leslie Reginald Anlezark.

Private Anlezark was one of 100 past students of Orange East Public School who headed off to fight in World War I.

He was one of 83 who survived.

Private Anlezark's wife was at the original 1919 service in Orange, as the soldier was on a hospital ship on his way home from the war.

Claire said that the idea of going off to war as a young person was "scary".

School principal Glen Bourke said that the trees used to have plaques, but that they were vandalised many years ago.

"I like to come down here sometimes when there is nobody around," said Mr Bourke.

"It's beautiful with the dappled light."

Each year Orange East Public School researches two of the 17 ex-students who died in the war.

This year it was lance corporal George Edward Seers, and private Ernest Edward Tandy.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:

Send us a letter to the editor using the form below ...