Before he enlisted Private Eagles was a member of Adamstown’s third grade team. He served on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Medal.
On the night of the 17th/18th May, 1917, during a heavy bombardment and a hostile raid on LE TOUQUET Sector, this soldier showed great courage and devotion to duty. He acted as a runner, and telephonic communication being cut off, he ran with messages from the front line to Battalion Headquarters, a distance of 1 1/2 miles, and returned with further messages, being both ways under heavy H.E. and shrapnel fire. His brave action enabled Battalion Headquarters to receive valuable information, and the Battalion Commander to get important orders through to the front line. He set a splendid example to his comrades of devotion to duty.
A few weeks laters on 7 June 1917, he received multiple gunshot wounds to the right leg, shoulder, leg and arm and returned to Australia. On 14 December 1917 the Newcastle Morning Herald on reported that Private W. Eagles
arrived last evening at, the residence of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Eagles, of Victoria Street. Eagles was entertained at his parents residence by a large gathering of friends including the Mayor and Mayoress, Alderman and Mrs. Robin, and members of the patriotic committee. The toast of the evening was proposed by Mr. J. Jennings, who eulogised Private Eagles for his bravery on the occasion of his gaining the Military Medal. Private Eagles left with the 34th Battalion, and was in the thick of the fighting while in France and was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in carrying despatches under heavy fire. He is at present suffering from severe wounds, and is unable to get about without the aid of crutches.
He was discharged from the AIF as medically unfit in June 1918. After the war, Private Eagles went back to working as a miner. In 1922 he married Laura Gaggin and died 1954 at the age of 61.