Born on Ballarat, Victoria and a dental mechanic by trade, John William Barnes was 19 years and single when enlisted on the 17th of May 1918 in the 8th General (Victorian) Reinforcements, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of Private, Number 60648. His Unit Australian Army Medical Corps embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A74 Marathon on the 23rd of July 1918 and was listed as returned to Australia per 'Konigin Luise' on the 4th of March 1920 and discharged on the 26th of March 1920. Previous military service Senior Cadets 5 years. Tree No. 3633