Loyal Harley Finch was born in Ballarat and was a Surveyor by trade when he enlisted in the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, Reinforcement 4 on 24 March 1916 at the age of 28. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A16 Port Melbourne on 21 October 1916. In September 1917 he crossed to France as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 3rd Australian Pioneers. In December of that year he was withdrawn from Belgium and hospitalised in England suffering from Trench Fever. In April 1918 he returned to his unit in France and served out the remainder of the war. On February 15th 1920 he resigned his commission and was granted permission to return to Australia, via America, at his own expense æfor educational purposes'.
Tree No 2663