Start with the Biographical section of the Australian War Memorial Website. Click on the 'Research a Person' link and enter any relevant information. You may obtain an array of records, but you are guaranteed to at least obtain an entry on the nominal roll (a photographed sheet from which you identify your soldier). This will give you amongst other information his unit and enlistment and discharge dates. The AWM site has a wealth of information on WW1 and you may wish to investigate other sections, such as the Australians at War Section

Once you have the soldiers unit (such as his battalion), and relevant dates you can track his experiences through following his unit through the War. A battalion of infantry is made up of around 1000 men and it is reasonable to assume that your soldier shared a common experience with these men.Next go to Ross Mallet's Order of Battle site as it has comprehensive information on every unit that served in WW1. Make a list of the Battle Honours for your unit, and that, together with the enlistment and discharge dates will show what your soldier was involved in. Mallet also has a link to unit histories which you may be able to obtain through your library or view at the Mitchell Library.

Next find out some detail about some of the battles the soldier may have participated in. One suggestion to to refer to the Australian Battlefields of WW1 site. Another suggestion would be to download and look at the appropriate section of the Bean's First World War Official History available on the AWM site.

This page on the National Archives of Australia site gives instructions for searching for information using RecordSearch. If you are fortunate the soldier's Service Record will have been digitised for you to view (you can request a photocopy but will need to pay for it). The service record usually has an Attestation Paper, Service and Casualty Form and any Military Correspondence. These can be extremely valuable to obtain a mental picture of the soldier and to track his movements. As well a hospital admission dates, the Service and Casualty Form includes leave details, any AWOL and some information on movements.

A photograph of the soldier will add interest and a personal dimension to your story of the 'name'. Many photographs may exist but they can be very difficult to locate unless you know relatives of the soldier. It is possible to search the AWM photographic database for photos. If you are unable to locate an individual photo, try searching for a photo of the soldier's unit or battalion. There is a possibility that he may be part of a group photograph.