| Regimental number | 2644 |
| Place of birth | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Farrier |
| Address | Brunswick, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 28 |
| Height | 5' 5" |
| Weight | 128 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, W J Mays, Fire Station, Brunswick, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil (previously rejected for enlistment on account of teeth) |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 8th Battalion, 8th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/25/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board SS Makarini on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 60th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 21), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 170 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Joined 8th Bn, Anzac, Gallipoli, 7 December 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 7 January 1916 (general Gallipoli evacuation). Transferred to 60th Bn, Tel el Kebir, and taken on strength, 24 February 1916. Admitted to 15th Field Ambulance, 7 April 1916 (influenza); rejoined Bn, Fery Post, 15 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Reported Missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Handwritten notation on B103: 'No trace of Grave on Research'. Note, Red Cross File No 1750409: 'No trace Germany. Cert. by Capt. Mills 10.10.19.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, MAYS William Henry John
Red Cross File No 1750409 |