James MacPherson Grant (SN 65) born at Casterton, was a 24 year old bank clerk when he enlisted in Ballarat on August 17th 1914. With the 8th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Benalla on October 19th and sailed first to Egypt and then to Gallipoli for the April 25th 1915 landing. In the chaos of the first couple of days, he received a gunshot wound to his leg and was evacuated to hospital in Egypt. Once recovered he was attached to the AIF Headquarters and served mostly with training units in Egypt and England. Aside from an accidental shoulder injury in July 1918, he avoided serious illness or injury until he was awarded ‘special 1914 leave’ which enabled him to return to Australia aboard the Leicestershire. He disembarked at Melbourne on January 22nd 1919 and was discharged on March 23rd.