Wally Raine enlisted twice. He originally enlisted in the 8th Infantry Battalion on 17th August 1914, and was wounded at Gallipoli, and returned to Australia to be discharged medically unfit. When he was fully recovered he re-enlisted on 25th April 1918 and was posted to a Railway Operating Unit. Walter James Raine was 20 years old, single, and living with his parents at Spencer Street, Sebastapol when he enlisted. He was employed by the Victorian Government Railways. He had served two years as a Senior Cadet.

Wally Raine was wounded in the back during the fighting at Cape Helles, but there is no mention of it in his records of that period. On 14th May 1915 Private Raine suffered a shrapnel wound to his head. He was evacuated to the Hospital Ship Braemar Castle and taken to Malta, where he was admitted to Tigne Convalescent Hospital. It was there that the back wound was discovered and treated. He was discharged from hospital on 12th July and embarked for Egypt on HMT Seang Bee. As a result of a Medical Board Report at Broadmeadows on 30th May 1916 it was decided that he should be discharged as 'Medically Unfit for War Service'. He completed the discharge procedures and was discharged on 27th June 1916. On the 26th April 1918 Wally Raine enlisted in the AIF again. This time he was allocated to the Australian Railway Operating Company reinforcements, with a new Regimental No. of 3151. Tree No. 23, an elm, was planted by Miss A. Widgery, a 'Lucas Girl:, in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, on 4th June 1917.

He had two brothers who also served: Driver Jonathan Raine, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column, returned to Australia, 8 November 1918 (Tree No 176) and Pte William Campbell Raine, 8th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement, returned to Australia, 28 March 1919 (Tree No 1068)