William Rufus Slocombe was born in Ballarat, Victoria, was single and a Labourer when he enlisted with the 4th Light Horse Regiment, 12th Reinforcement on 5 August 1915 at the age of 29. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A40 Ceramic on 23 November 1915. He was admitted to the No. 4 Auxiliary Hospital suffering chick pox on 20 January 1916 and was transferred to the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column in March of that year. In May 1916, while in France, he was appointed as a shoeing smith. A few months later, In August, he was again hospitalised, this time for appendicitis.

In January 1917 he suffered chronic bronchitis, but still marched to France from England with his unit in May 1917. The remainder of his tour seemed to be without major incident, illness or injury, and he returned home to Australia on 15 May 1919.
Tree No. 1869