On a trip to Kiama with his family, Mr Rogers visited the war memorial - as is his habit while visiting new places - and saw the name Robert Weir on the list of fallen soldiers.

Due to his role in organising Penrith's Poppy Park, Mr Rogers was aware Private Robert Weir died in Sudan in 1885 and was the first Australian soldier recorded at the Australian War Memorial, but he didn't know he was from Kiama. The serendipitous moment sparked Mr Rogers into action.

He used the Kiama Family History Centre, and their helpful staff, to begin to get to know more about Private Weir.

After searching Births, Deaths and Marriages, newspaper archive site Trove and the War Memorial website, Mr Rogers was encouraged by how much he knew about Private Weir.

"Robert Weir was a name and now he's a person with a history, thanks to some research."

After just a few hours investigating a soldier who passed away almost 130 years ago, Mr Rogers found out Private Weir was one of 10 children and he was born in the Wollongong area before moving down to Kiama.

Private Weir was one of eight children who walked onto a ship in Kiama and went to Sydney to take part in the New South Wales Contingent - Sudan.

A newspaper article from February 20, 1885 said the volunteers "fell into rank in front of the volunteer office, from whence they marched to the wharf, headed by the Kiama Brass Band".

A memorial to Private Weir was erected in Kiama in 1886.

Weir's descendants Fred and George served in World War I. Read their story in our Centenary of Anzac edition on April 22.