Enlisted at Brisbane 30/03/1916 age 24 years. His next of kin (NOK), Wife, Mrs Sarah Louisa Deem, Fernhill Farm, Gayndah. On enlistment he was 5 ft 6 and weighed 145 lbs and stated his occupation as a Carpenter at Gayndah.

He was wounded 07/06/1917 with a gunshot wound to left thigh, and again in April 1918 with a gunshot wound to right ft. He returned to Australia and discharged 1919. Following information sourced by Mrs Karen McKechnie. Following his discharge on 29 December 1919, He returned to Gayndah.

In 1922 he and Sarah with their young children moved to Mount Tully, Stanthorpe to take up orcharding with William’s brothers, James and Walter. William and Sarah later moved to Brisbane for William to resume his carpentry trade and raise their seven children. Descendants of the Deem family often visit Gayndah to pay their respects.