William Mervin Leach (SN 4241) born in Ballarat, was a 20 year old labourer when he enlisted in Ballarat on July 6th 1915. He embarked for active service aboard the Demosthenes on December 29th as a reinforcement for the 14th Infantry Battalion. On January 31st 1917, in France, he sustained wounds to his elbow and leg and was evacuated to England. He spent the remainder of 1917 in England in various deployments before rejoining his unit in France in February 1918. At wars end he returned to Australia aboard the Ulysses, disembarked at Melbourne on March 10th 1919 and was discharged on April 24th.

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