William Gordon Sides was born in Mount Mercer, Victoria, was single and a Civil Engineer when he enlisted with the 4th Pioneer Battalion, Reinforcement 9 on 22 May 1916 at the age of 30. His unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A33 Ayrshire on 24 January 1917. In October 1917 he proceeded overseas to France and transferred to the 4th Pioneer Battalion. He received a promotion to Lieutenant in December of that year. In March 1918 he was detached for duty with the 184th Tunnelling Convoy. In his final year of service he was diagnosed with influenza pneumonia. By this time the war had come to an end and he returned home to Australia on 9 December 1919.
Tree No. 3713