The Nine Network’s current affairs program contacted former Forbes man Andrew Drane, son of Geoff and Chris, about doing a story on his great grandfather, World War I veteran Thomas Edward Drane and the tradition he began of giving sons the middle name Anzac.

Thomas Edward Drane’s story is a fascinating one, one that was immortalised in a diary he wrote during his time at war and which Andrew has spent the past few years bringing to life as an interactive iBook.

T.E. Drane was the first person in Forbes to sign up for World War I, the same day that Great Britain declared war against Germany and Australia pledged its allegiance to England - August 4, 1914.

He was in fact the 53rd Australian to sign up to the war effort and happened to be part of one of the units who landed at Gallipoli on the morning of April 25, 1915.

T. E. Drane’s diaries document his time during the war and what he suffered on that fateful morning nearly 100 years ago.

When he returned to Forbes from the war, Tom wrote to the government for special permission to use Anzac as the middle name for his son and official records state that Tom was the first person to use the name for personal use, giving his three sons the middle name Anzac - George Anzac Drane, Albert Edward Anzac Drane and Thomas Anzac Drane.

Thomas Anzac Drane is the grandfather of Andrew Drane, who discovered the meaning behind his grandfather’s middle name and decided to restart the tradition of giving sons the middle name Anzac.

Andrew’s four-year-old son is named Leo Anzac Drane, who is the first of Tom’s great great grandchildren to have the name.

Andrew’s cousins then also decided to carry on the family tradition and now there are a total of five great great grandsons with the middle name Anzac; Leo Drane, Archie Thomas, Sam Drane, Hugh McAnally and Bill Giblin.

Andrew said 60 Minutes found out about the family tradition and the story of T. E. Drane and contacted him about doing a special story in the lead up to the centenary of Anzac Day.

“They’re interested in the diary for the 100 year centenary and as a consequence interested in the family story,” he said.

60 Minutes reporter Michael Usher spent Sunday and Monday in Forbes with his film crew interviewing Andrew and getting shots of the extended family at the Diggers Swimming Club event, which is also of significance to the Dranes with the feature race being the Tom Drane Memorial Cup, named after Thomas Anzac Drane.

Michael Usher said that given the centenary of Anzac this year, this story is so important.

“It’s a beautiful piece of family history for the Dranes but also a great piece of Australian history,” he said.

Michael said it’s incredible that all these generations later, these five boys carry on the tradition that their great great grandfather started.

“This middle name carries on as a tribute to him [T. E. Drane] and a tribute to Anzac history, not to glorify it but to honour and remember,” he said.

“It’s just a great living bit of history and I think there’s no better tribute to Anzac Day.

“If he [T. E. Drane] could see these four great little happy Australians [his grandsons with the middle name Anzac], you’d like to think he is a very proud man today.”

Andrew said he is excited for Tom’s diaries to be recognised in the 60 Minutes program. “For the sake of the story, I’m really excited about it and to have Tom Drane’s diary out in the public more, that’s exciting for me,” he said.

“It’s an interesting project to work on and to have it recognised is great.

“I think it will be good for Anzac Day in Forbes...this can only help that.”

The 60 Minutes story will air closer to Anzac Day and will be part of their special Anzac feature.