Edward Ayers was one of the very early volunteers to fight in the Great War, enlisting on 20 August 1914. He was 26 years old, English by birth, with his next of kin, his mother, living in Balham, London. He had had previous military experience, serving four years with the 25th Company London Cyclists. He embarked at Melbourne on the A24 'Benalla' on 19 October 1914, to serve with the Western Front Force in Egypt as a driver, arriving on 15 December, 1915. After serving in Egypt at Matruh, he was sent to France, disembarking at Marseilles on 25 March, 1916. By now, he had been promoted to Lance Corporal.

He served on the Western Front for three months before being temporarily detached to the 8th Battalion from 10-16 July, 1916, then returned to the 3rd AASC. A month later, he was sent back to England, transferred to the 1st Australian Division Base Depots Division at Tidworth. From here, he was sent to the 1st Division School of Instruction on 30 December, 1916, nd then, in on command at the 4th Officers Cadet Battalion, Oxford for instruction, before being taken on strength with the 39th Battalion in France on 30 June, 1917. He was promoted to Second Lieutentant on 31 May and posted to the Infantry Reinforcements, returning to France on 21 June, 1917.and full Lieutenant on 14 September, 1917