William Stirton was born on 14 August 1891 and arrived at the port of Fremantle in July 1913. Before his enlistment in January 1916 he was working as a farm hand in Moonyoonooka, near Gerladton, and made appearances for the local team.
Corporal Stirton saw action on the Western Front with the Machine Gun Section of the 44th Battalion. On 4 June 1917 he was dangerously wounded after being shot in the right thigh and right arm which had to be amputated. Stirton’s war was over and he embarked for his return to Australia on 15 February 1918.
He married Daisy Warrener in 1922 and died in Perth, WA, in 1956 at the age of 65.