CENTENNIAL TASK: Tony Rippin, left, curator at the South Canterbury Museum, Lois Shears, Maree Bowen, Liz Shea, convener for the South Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists, and Teresa Scott at the cenotaph war memorial in Queen St, Timaru, to discuss the database project about World War 1 soldiers.

South Canterbury servicemen who died in World War I will be remembered in a project launched last night at the South Canterbury Museum.

As part of the WW100 commemorations the museum is linking with the South Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists and The Timaru Herald to compile a database to be known as SCRoll, profiling the dead, and expanding on work by local historian Paul McNicholl.

The museum and society hosted the launch last night, outlining their massive project and calling for volunteers to help. They were joined by local researchers and representatives from heritage organisations and councils across the district.

"Over 1000 South Cantabrians died on foreign shores between 1914 and 1918," said project co-ordinator Tony Rippin. "There's a lot of work to be done."

The idea for SCRoll came about as a result of discussions between the museum, local genealogists and the newspaper.

The Herald is planning its own publication for the anniversary of the declaration of war in August next year and will also provide manpower and support for the greater project.

It is now hoped other groups and individuals with information about service personnel will join the project, sharing their information and adding their own expertise and knowledge.

The commemorative period will run through to 2019 and it is hoped that during that time previously untold stories will be shared and recorded.

It is also hoped private collections such as letters, diaries and photographs of the men and women who served will be added to the database through the involvement of descendants and participating organisations.

"I hope the people of South Canterbury will join us in this project," Mr Rippin said. "There is also the possibility that those who did return . . . can be added at some time in the future."