The battalion recruited 795 out of 919 men from Tasmania, leaving approximately one in every 10 families affected across the state.

Outnumbered and lacking supplies, the majority of the 

2nd/40th’s personnel were captured and spent time as prisoners of war.

Ron Cassidy was Launceston’s ‘‘last man standing’’ from the battalion and spent his later life preserving the memory of fallen mates.

When Mr Cassidy died earlier this year it was his wish that their memory live on – a task Rod Stone has since facilitated through establishing the plaque.

‘‘Those that did come home didn’t receive the true recognition they should have done, nor the medical attention they would get now if they came home from war,’’ Mr Stone said.

‘‘But the families hold their legacy.’’

Accordingly, St Patrick’s College student Georgia Strickland won an award from the Launceston Historical Society for a major school assignment on the battalion.

Miss Strickland was motivated to conduct her work after discovering how her grandfather – who died three weeks after she was born – had been affected by the battalion.

‘‘I did it to get to know him,’’ Miss Strickland said.

‘‘It was really hard at times, when you don’t really know someone and then the first things you find out about are these really awful times they went through, it’s so hard.’’

Miss Strickland’s work will be available via a new website created by George Lawson which aims to give families a direct source to the battalion’s history.

The site can be accessed at www.secondfortieth.com.au.