Walter William Kydd (SN 1611) born in Ballarat, was a 38 year old cook when he enlisted at Broadmeadows on October 6th 1914. On February 19th 1915 he embarked aboard the Runic and served through most of the Gallipoli campaign with the 14th Infantry Battalion. His service thereafter was dominated by a lengthy hospital stay and by several periods of absence without leave that resulted in periods of detention. After the war he was scheduled to return to Australia, but on February 5th 1919 he married Daisy Newland and went absent without leave failing to board for the return voyage. He remained missing until September 1920 by which time he had been deemed an illegal absentee. He had been formally discharged on July 21st 1920 ‘in consequence of desertion’ and was deemed ineligible for War Medals despite his service at Gallipoli. He returned to Australia with other illegal absentees aboard the Bahia Castillo, disembarking on February 12th 1921.