William Michael Joseph Walsh (SN 625) born at Berringa near Ballarat, was an 18 year old wool presser when he enlisted in Ballarat on May 18th 1916. As a reinforcement for the 39th Infantry Battalion he embarked aboard the Ascanius on May 27th. He reached France in September by which time he had been transferred to the 8th Battalion. His service through 1917 had interruptions due to trench feet and bronchitis, but in April 1918 he sustained a shrapnel wound to his chest and right lung. He was evacuated to hospital in England before being returned to Australia aboard the Essex. He disembarked at Melbourne on August 1st 1918 and was discharged ‘medically unfit, wounded’ on August 17th.