John 'Jack' Williams, born in Ballarat and a painter by trade, enlisted in the 8th Infantry Battalion on 24 August 1914 at the age of 21. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A24 Benalla on 19 October 1914. According to a report from the 'Braemar Castle' Pte Williams suffered a gunshot wound to the foot on 14 May 1915 and was admitted to Hospital in Malta. He rejoined his unit on 10 July 1915. In both 1916 and 1917 he was admitted to hospital as sick, the latter being due to scabies, before being again wounded in action on 28 October 1917.

On 8 October 1918, Pte. Williams embarked for Australia. He received a final medical discharge on 31 January 12919.

Tree No. 191

Scabies, also known colloquially as the seven-year itch, is a contagious skin infection caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite is a tiny, and usually not directly visible, parasite which burrows under the host's skin, which in most people causes an intense itching sensation caused by an allergic response.