Norman Grant Straker was born in Ballarat, Victoria, was single and a Clerk when he enlisted with the 5th Battalion, 24th Reinforcement on 2 December 1916 at the age of 22. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A70 Ballarat on 19 February 1917, marching in to the 2nd Training Battalion on 26 April 1917. He was transferred to the 21st Battalion and joined his unit in the filed alter that month. In October 1917 he was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the right knee and was evacuated to the 16th General Hospital. The wound proved slight and he was able to re-join his battalion in the field in November 1917. He would later be admitted to the New Zealand Stationary Hospital for deafness and hospitalised at the 14th General Hospital in Boulogne on 7 February 1918.

After returning to the field Norman Straker would again be wounded in the field with a gunshot wound to the thigh and face on 4 July 1918. He would spend the remainder of the war in hospital until his return to Australia aboard the Nestor on 12 December 1918.
Tree No. 3804