Oliver Coates (SN 2061) born at Geelong, was a 30 year old farmer when he enlisted at Ballarat on June 7th 1916. He embarked aboard the Shropshire on September 25th and sailed to England. In December he crossed to France to serve with the 39th Infantry Battalion. He was wounded twice in 1917, the most serious of which was a gunshot wound to his shoulder that forced his evacuation to England. He rejoined his unit in December but thereafter several different health issues impacted on his service. He returned to Australia aboard the Kyber, disembarked at Melbourne on May 21st 1919 and was discharged on September 26th.