Michael Augustine Nolan (SN 2123) was born at Ballan and was a 19 year old labourer when he enlisted in Melbourne on May 20th 1916. Allocated to the 37th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Shropshire on September 25th and sailed to England where he continued training. He was charged with being absent without leave for two days in early December and had to forfeit nine days pay. Illnesses such as bronchitis and rheumatism regularly interrupted his training until a medical assessment determined that he should be returned to Australia. He departed England on May 23rd 1917 aboard the Ayrshire, reached Melbourne on July 17th and was discharged ‘disability, tachycardia’ on September 6th 1917