Michael Francis Donnelly (SN 6254) born in Ballarat, was a 25 year old farmer when he enlisted in Ballarat on June 21st 1916. On September 11th he embarked aboard the Euripides and sailed to England. In December he crossed to France to serve with the 8th Infantry Battalion. On October 4th 1917, at Messines in Belgium, he was wounded, suffering a shrapnel wound to his arm. He was able to rejoin his unit five weeks later. From that point he avoided battle wounds but was hospitalised several times due to illness. When the war ended, he returned home on the Port Darwin, disembarked on July 27th 1919 and was discharged on September 10th.