Henry Gilbert Halstead was born in Melbourne and was a Cook by trade when he enlisted from Ballarat in the 24th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement on 15 July 1915 at the age of 24. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 26 August 1915. He landed on Gallipoli in October and served there until the evacuation in December. After some leave and further training in Egypt, he moved to France with his battalion in March 1916. For two years he avoided injury but on March 8th 1918 he was wounded in action when he received shrapnel wounds to his right arm and scalp. He was evacuated to a hospital ship and transferred to hospital in England. After his release from hospital he was moved to the Convalescent Depot at Hurdcott and did not rejoin his unit in France until November 9th, just two days before the signing of the Armistice. He returned to Australia on the Trasos Montes, reaching Melbourne on May 22nd 1919.
Tree No. 1664