William Percival Pryor (SN 484 / Lt) was born in Ballarat where he was working as a clerk when he enlisted in the 21st Battalion on March 15th 1915, having previously served with the 19th Light Horse. He rose through the ranks quickly, promoted to Corporal in June and Lance Sergeant a couple of months later.
He was aboard the Southland when it was torpedoed in the Aegean Sea in early September 1915 but still managed to spend some weeks at Gallipoli. He was evacuated in late October, suffering from typhoid, and was returned to Australia on theNestor, disembarking in Melbourne on March 13th 1916.

While back in Australia he attended the Officer Training School at Duntroon and gained his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. The newly married officer embarked with his unit from Melbourne on board the Suevic in June 1917. In November he qualified as an instructor before being posted to France with the 29th Battalion in December. Promoted to full Lieutenant in January 1918, he was" wounded slightly" in action in August but was able to remain on duty. He left England on board the Main the following July and his appointment was terminated on November 10th 1919.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as William B. Pryor