Born in Ballarat, William John Laffey was a married 24 year old labourer at the time of his enlistment on the 11th of August 1915. His unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A71 Nestor on the 11th of October 1915.
On the 27th of July 1916, William was wounded in action. On the 1st of August 1916 he embarked for the U.K where he was admitted to the 3rd Western General Hospital in Cardiff, Wales with a gunshot wound to his left leg. On the 8th of February 1917 he was admitted to the 2nd Auxiliary Hospital with an amputated left leg.
William returned to Australia on the 11th of May 1917, and was discharged as medically unfit on the 31st of August 1917.

Tree No. 2743