Born in Ballarat, Victoria and a hair dresser by trade, Lewis Gordon Ballhausen was 19 years and single when enlisted on the 25th of May 1916 in the 39th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of Private, Number 2039. His Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 Shropshire on the 25th of September 1916 and disembarked at Plymouth on the 11th of November 1916. On the 13th of June 1918 was admitted to Hospital sick in France. On the 30th of August 1918 wounded in action and admitted to hospital and invalid to UK and was listed as returned to Australia on the 8th of January 1919 per 'Orsova' and disembarked on the 27th of February 1919. He was discharged on the 3rd MD with the termination of period of enlistment on the 6th of April 1919 and was declared permanently unfit. Tree No. 2410