Born in Ballarat, Victoria and a labourer by trade, Albert Theodore Basten was 21 years and single when enlisted on the 14th of November 1916 in the 2nd Pioneer Battalion, Reinforcement 9, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of Private, Number 3627. Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A9 'Shropshire' on the 11th of May 1917. Marched into Pioneer Training Battalion from Australia ex H.M.A.T., Fovant on the 19th of July 1917. Private proceded overseas France ex Pioneer Training Battalion Sutton Veny via Southhampton on the 8th of January 1918. Embarked return to Australia per Bakara ex England on the 24th of July 1919. Disembarked on the 29th of September 1919. Discharged from the 3rd Military District on the 4th of November 1919 with the termination of Period of Enlistment. Tree No. 3466