Born in Ballarat and a saw miller by trade, John Kennedy Ballhausen was 28 years and single when enlisted on the 9th of July 1915 in the 23rd Battalion, 6th Reinforcement, Australian Imperial Force, with the rank of Private, Number 2850. His Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on the 27th of October 1915. TOS (Taken on Strength) from Reinforcements 23rd Battalion to 58th Battalion. Admitted to hospital sick at Tel-el-Kebir on the 29th of February 1916 and re-joined Unit on the 13th of March 1916. Wounded in action in France on the 19th of July 1916. Embarked A.S. 'Brighton' at Calais for England and admitted to +th Northern General Hospital Lincoln (58th Battalion) and gunshot wounds left foot serious on the 28th of July 1916. Cause of becoming non-effective with date of casualty and was listed as returned to Australia per hospital transport 'Ayrshire' on the 23rd of May 1917 per 'A 33' ex England for change as a result of gunshot wounds left foot which reached Melbourne on the 17th of July 1917and was discharged on the 3rd MD 1917. Tree No.877