George Booklass, a master printer of the Auckland firm Tuck and Booklass, joined up in December 1915. He was in camp nearly ten months receiving several promotions in that time. He left New Zealand with the 18th Reinforcements (Wellington Infantry) on 16th October 1916 with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, just a week after the birth of his first child.

2nd Lieut. Booklass served on the Western Front with the Wellington Infantry for barely two months before being hospitalised with damaged knee cartilage, a condition that left him permanently unfit for any further active service. He returned to New Zealand on the Athenic in May 1918 and received his discharge the following month.