War memorial app tells WA Anzac story

Visitors to Perth's state war memorial can now interact with a fictional Anzac digger and get a photo with the soldier through a free augmented reality app.

Looking through a tablet or phone at a designated spot in Kings Park, visitors will see Sergeant Tom McKinnon in 3D as he talks about his experiences at war.

Sgt Mckinnon is an amalgam of Western Australia's Anzacs and talks about training at Blackboy Hill, setting sail from Fremantle, landing at Anzac Cove and going home early after a shrapnel wound.

RSL WA president Graham Edwards said he believed it was the first time an app had been developed at a war memorial to educate people about military history.

Lead producer of the Anzac Tom App, Justin McArdle from Frame Media, had a great-grandfather who died on the Somme and pursued the project with the RSL.

"The RSL was cautious to begin with but one of the things they think is very important is engaging the next generation and this is one way of doing that," he said.

Sgt McKinnon is played by Perth actor Myles Pollard, best known for his role in McLeod's Daughters.

The green screen and motion capture suit were new for him, but he said he felt honoured to portray a digger.

"You're recreating a little slice of history that's a very significant part of who we are, so I am proud of that," he said.

"You can read something or look at old photos, but to see a character telling the story in the emotive setting of the war memorial, I think that will give you even more of a connection."