They were among the many hundreds killed at Fromelles in France — the young nation’s darkest night.

The third man, Frank Aitchison, survived the battle and nearly 100 years later glass photo plates of the soldier were found in France.

Private Aitchison, of the 32nd Battalion, was one of hundreds of Australian, New Zealand, French and US soldiers who had their photo taken by Louis and Antoinette Thuillier.

A trunk full of photos in a farmhouse attic in Vignacourt, on the Somme, gathered dust until they were uncovered in 2011 by journalist Ross Coulthart.

Aitchison’s daughter Valma Ford said discovering the nearly 4000 photos had been “extremely moving” for the soldiers’ families.

“It was incredibly interesting and heartwarming to a lot of people that have never seen photos of their relatives who were killed,” Mrs Ford, of Aldinga Beach, said.

“Because my dad came back we were aware there had been photos.

“But he never spoke about the war when he returned.”

Aitchison, of Goodwood, enlisted at 20 and was sent to the Western Front.

Aitchison fought alongside his mates Bill Irving and Victor Simon at Fromelles.

Nearly 2000 Australian soldiers were killed or died from their wounds, making the battle Australia’s largest loss of life in a single event.

Irving, an Adelaide book binder, and Simon, a storeman, were among the dead.

Aitchison was wounded in the battle — he was sent to a Scottish hospital with shrapnel embedded in his buttocks.

“By the time he got back from Scotland nearly all his friends were dead,” Mrs Ford said.

Aitchison returned to his job as a book binder when he was discharged in 1919.

He married Eanys Blaggy and they had three children.

Aitchison was one of 19 soldiers who had their photograph sketched by artist Mariana Mezic as part of Lines of Recall — an exhibition of life-size drawings of World War I soldiers.

The exhibition was at the Flinders Medical Centre last year.

“I was so thrilled by it,” Mrs Ford said.

“I was leaning over an touching it and Ross (Coulthart) put his arm around my shoulder,” Mrs Ford said.

“He knew how much that sketch meant to me because he was responsible for finding the photos and letting people know they had photos of their relations. It was very moving.”

THIS story is part of Messenger’s 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile 100 South Australian World War I heroes as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during World War I, let us know. Please go to your local Messenger’s Facebook page and send us the details.