Maurice Leo Nichamin was eighteen years old when he enlisted on 12/2/1917. He gave his occupation as Engineer, having done a four year apprenticeship with Kelly and Lewis in Bourke Street. He also had military experience, having been in the Cadets for four years, and with eighteen months in the CMF, ni which he was still serving. His application to enlist was accepted, 'subject to proving age', and he was moved to the Austraian Flying Corps camp at Laverton on 12/2/1917. From there he moved to Broadmeadows on 2/4/1917, where he stayed until 3 May. he was then sent by train to Liverpool NSW, before embarking on HMT 'Marathon' for England on 10/5/1917. he arrived in England on 25/7/1917 and was sent to Farnsborough, then Windover in September and October, before being deployed to France, where he ws taken on strength at Amiens on 22/10/1918. Here he served with the 3rd Squadron AIF. 

Like many other servicemen, he fell ill with influenza in March 1919 and this was followed with a bout of urethritus. At this point, with the war over, he was discharged from duty and in June 1919, attended the Uskside National Works at Newport to do training in metal turning. He then returned to Melbourne, disembarking on 13/11/1919. 

In 1924, he was workign as an engineer and still living with his mother at 109 Hotham St., East Melbourne. by 1924, he had married his wife, Shirley and was living at 38 Holloway St., Ormond. His son, also named Maurice Leo, was born on 12 November, 1927. He and Shirley remained at Ormond until at least 1972.