William McGrath (SN 5653) born at Euroa, was a 29 year old labourer married with two children when he enlisted in Melbourne on July 22nd 1915. He embarked from Sydney aboard the Runic on January 20th 1916 and sailed to Egypt. In June he reached France to serve with the 8th Field Company Engineers. While he avoided battle wounds, he was hospitalised in June 1917 after sustaining a knee injury while grooming a horse. He rejoined his unit in September and saw out the remaining year of the war without significant incident. He returned to Australia aboard the Wyreema, disembarked at Melbourne on May 31st 1919 and was discharged on July 25th.