William Francis Douglass (SN 1729), born at Ballarat, was a 27 year old flour miller when he enlisted in Ballarat on September 29th 1914. He embarked aboard the Wiltshire on April 14th and in May he reached Gallipoli to serve with the 8th Infantry Battalion. In August he received a shrapnel wound to his hand and was evacuated to Mudros for treatment. Back in Egypt after Gallipoli he was transferred to the 58th Battalion in March 1916 before moving to France in June. He had several health problems in 1916 including a hernia, influenza and pneumonia. In August 1917 he was transferred to the 5th Division Signals Company. In October of 1917 he suffered a severe, accidental, bayonet wound under his arm and was evacuated to England. In January 1918 he was again transferred, this time to the Australian Flying Corps as an air mechanic. When the war ended, he returned home on the Kaiser-i-Hind , disembarked at Melbourne on June 16th 1919 and was discharged on August 26th.
He also served during World War 2.