George Washington Emery was an early recruit to the Australian war effort, enlisting at South Melbourne on 20 August, 1914. His registration number, 58, shows how enthusiastic he must have been to 'do his bit'. Initially enrolled as a Driver, he was drafted into the Australian Army Corps, No. 3 Brigade. he was then 22 years and 4 months old, probably born in April 1896. He was single, Church of England by religion, working as a Commercial Traveller, and gave as his next of kin, his father Elbridge Gerry Emory, of 45 Charles St., Northcote, Victoria. His army record describes hm as having a fair complexion, blue eyes and reddish hair and being 5' 8" in height.

After initial training in Melbourne, he left for Egypt on board HMAT Euripides for Egypt, disembarkign at Alexandria. Here he was taken on strength with the Australian Army Pay Corps. From Egypt, he transferred to London, arriving on 8 August, 1916, where he again served with the Pay Corps. On 14 August, he marched otu ot Perham Downs and was placed with the No. 1 Company Depot. It seems he never served in France, but moved first to Tidworth, then to Weymouth. This may have been because he was of more use in England, but may also relate to his health - he appears to have suffered from chronic bronchitis, which saw him returned to Australia on board the Themistocles A32 on 5 November, 1917. By then he was a Staff Sergeant. He was discharged from further service on 15 March, 1918.