George Wells (SN 312) born in Ballarat, was a 23 year old hairdresser when he enlisted in Ballarat on August 17th 1914. With the 8th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Benalla and sailed to Egypt before the Gallipoli landing of April 25th 1915. At the end of the Gallipoli campaign, he was hospitalised suffering from orchitis. Following this he was transferred to the 60th Battalion then the 58th Battalion before joining the 15th Machine Gun Company in France in September 1916. In March 1917 influenza forced his evacuation to England where an extended illness delayed his return to action until October. In February 1918 he was transferred to the 57th Battalion then in April he was wounded, gassed, rejoining his unit in June. He was granted ‘special 1914 leave’ which enabled him to return to Australia aboard the Port Sydney and disembarked at Melbourne on December 2nd 1918. He was discharged on January 31st 1919.