Eligibility based on service during the First World War is designed to recognise those who enlisted or were appointed for service outside Australia.  In general, a person who served between 4 August 1914 and 31 August 1921 inclusive, who was a member of the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Australia (or any nursing service maintained in connection with these Forces), and who enlisted or was appointed for active service outside Australia is an eligible person.

The following may be included as an eligible person under certain circumstances:

• a person who served in the Naval, Military or Air Forces or associated nursing services of any part of the King's Dominions other than Australia, provided that the person previously resided (see Eligibility GO 14.3) in Australia or an Australian Territory;

• a person who entered into an agreement with the Commonwealth to work in Great Britain as a “munition worker” or a “war worker” and satisfactorily carried out the terms of the agreement;

• a person employed in certain sea-going service and who was during that employment, domiciled (see Eligibility GO 14.2) in Australia;

• a representative of the YMCA who was accepted and served abroad with the Australian Forces during the First World War.

A person with otherwise appropriate service may be ineligible if that service ended due to misconduct or misbehaviour (please see Eligibility GO 11 for full details).  However, this exclusion does not apply to the widow, widower or dependent parent of a person whose service ended due to misconduct or misbehaviour.