Herbert William Finch was born in Ballarat and was a Farmer by trade when he enlisted in the 39th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement on 17 August 1916 at the age of 28. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A17 Port Lincoln on 20 October 1916. In October 1917 he joined the 39th Battalion in France, but within a month was hospitalised with measles. On September 29th 1918 he was wounded in action, suffering a gunshot wound to his left hand. He was evacuated to hospital in France where he saw out the remaining weeks of the war. He returned to Australia on the Wiltshire, disembarking on August 19th 1919.
Tree No 2501