William Fanselow enlisted in 1915 and embarked on 9 October with 1st New Zealand Rifle Brigade, D Company. In September 1918 he was reported as having been wounded and admitted to hospital, but was “not a severe case”. Sgt Fanselow had received a gunshot wound to the left foot which resulted in the loss of his little toe. He continued to serve until

On the outbreak of WW2 William Fanselow was a married man with three children aged under 16 years. The family lived in Auckland where and Fanselow was a self-employed manufacturing and import Agent. He served immediately with the National Military Reserve and then served with the National Territorial Service, Northern Military District from December 1941 to the end of August 1943.