William Joseph Paine (SN 2212) born in Ballarat, was a 21 year old grocer living in Mt. Pleasant when he enlisted in Melbourne on July 14th 1915. He embarked for active service aboard the Hororata on September 27th, assigned to the 23rd Infantry Battalion. He reached France in early 1916 and during his service on the Western Front he was transferred to the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade. On August 20th 1918, while in France, he was wounded in action suffering a gunshot wound that fractured his right arm. He was evacuated to England, and for him the war was over. He embarked from England aboard the Takada on Christmas Day 1918 and reached Melbourne on February 11th 1919. He was discharged on June 20th 1916.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as William J. Payne.