Archibald was born in June 1888 at Goorambat in Victoria.

He enlisted at Melbourne on the 17 December 1915 and was allocated to the 4th Light Horse Regiment 26th Reinforcements. He was 27 years old. 5'11'' working as a labourer and married to Mary Dunlop.

After enlisting he spent over a year at  base camps in Royal Park, Seymore, and Langwarren. He embarked ex Melbourne  on HMTS Ascalius [A11] on the 11 May 1917 arriving  on the 20 July 1917.

After several months in England he proceeds to France ex Southampton on the 17 October 1917, he was taken on strengh with the 14th Field Artitary Battery on the 23 October 1917. After a stint in hospital with Influenza he was  appointed as a driver, under AIF orders.

He was returned to Enland early in March 1919 and returned to Australia on SS Cluny Castle on the 23 March 1919.