Walter Stuart (SN 96) was born in Ballarat where he was living with his parents at the time of his enlistment on August 18th 1914. Claiming to be 21, the 18 year old salesman left Melbourne with the 8th Battalion on board the Benalla in October. He suffered a gunshot wound to the head and arm while serving at Gallipoli in May 1915, and was evacuated to Malta, rejoining his unit in August. Promoted to Lance Corporal after the end of the Gallipoli campaign, he was posted to France in May 1916 but was soon after evacuated to England suffering from gastritis. In and out of hospital a number of times over the next two years, he finally left England for Australia in December 1918 and was discharged on March 30th 1919.

He also served during World War 2 and later with the Regular Army Special Reserve.