William John Kinnersley (SN 6541) born at Learmonth, was a married 34 year old farm labourer when he enlisted in Melbourne on July 29th 1916. He embarked aboard the Nestor on October 2nd and sailed first to England before joining the 8th Infantry Battalion in France in February 1917. In May 1917 he received a gunshot wound that fractured his upper arm and caused his evacuation to England. He was returned to Australia aboard the Beltana and was discharged ‘medically unfit, wounded’ on May 14th 1918. He also enlisted to serve during World War 2 with Service Number V361152.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as William J. Kinnersley.