William O’Brien (SN 7549), born at Smythesdale, was a 19 year old woollen mill employee when he enlisted in Ballarat on April 28th 1917. Assigned as a reinforcement for the 6th Infantry Battalion he embarked from Melbourne aboard the Themistocles on August 4th. He disembarked in Glasgow, Scotland, then moved to England for further training. He crossed to France in March 1918 but in June was withdrawn to hospital suffering from influenza. He rejoined his unit in early September and saw out the final months of the war. He departed England aboard the Persic on July 13th 1919 and returned to Melbourne where he was discharged on October 30th.