Once Upon a War Time

The wartime sacrifices of the Moreton Bay region have been commemorated with the launch of the Once Upon a War Time app in November 2015. Once Upon a War Time is an interactive, storytelling smartphone app designed to educate the community on what it was like for families and soldiers from the region during the First World War.

Successful round two Queensland Anzac Centenary community grant recipient Moreton Bay Regional Council Libraries compiled four years of research on 800 service personnel associated with the region for the project. Researchers relied on information recorded on local war memorials and honour boards, among other sources.

"It brings to life part of our region's First World War history and experiences with virtual technology the first Anzacs could never have imagined possible," Mayor Sutherland said.

The animated app was built by the design team at Queensland’s Zero Blink. It features three fictional characters based on the First World War experiences of real life Moreton Bay residents 100 years ago. The virtual storybook is narrated by character Will Short, an 18 year old draftsman from Redcliffe who boards the train to Sydney to enlist. He then tells the story of a casual labourer from Burpengary who enlists as a driver and a young mother left to run the family farm at Strathpine–each story bringing to life the realities of war at home and abroad.

Once Upon A War Time, which can be downloaded free of charge, showcases historical photographs and the details of the clothing and equipment of a typical soldier during the First World War. Local war records are also available to the general public via the app.

"From the intricate details of the uniform the first Anzacs wore to the weapons they used, Once Upon a War Time also includes direct links to the Moreton Bay Libraries catalogue, early war memorials and official service records," the Mayor said.