William Charles Gilbert MC (SN 348 / Lieutenant) was a 27 year old artesian well borer when he enlisted in Ballarat in July 1915. He trained at Seymour and Broadmeadows before embarking on the Ulysses on February 20th 1916. He served in France with the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company before undertaking officer training. In January 1918 he transferred to the 15th Field Company Engineers at the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. In March 1919, just prior to his return to Australia, he learned that he had been awarded the Military Cross ‘for conspicuous gallantry and coolness under fire’ at Bellicourt in France. He returned home on the Trasos Montes and came ashore back in Melbourne on May 22nd 1919.