George Bertram Merrifield (SN 1674) born at Castlemaine, was a 22 year old agricultural labourer when he enlisted in Melbourne on December 31st 1914. Allocated to the 5th Infantry Battalion he embarked aboard the Runic on February 19th 1915 and in May he landed at Gallipoli. A month later he was evacuated from Anzac Cove suffering from dysentery, returning in late August. After just three weeks he was again evacuated, suffering from pneumonia and did not rejoin his unit until Gallipoli had been abandoned. Back in Egypt he was transferred to the 57th Battalion and moved to France in June 1916. His health problems continued and it was decided he should be returned to Australia. He did so aboard the Nestor and was discharged ,'medically unfit' on November 1st 1916.