William John Paulk was the son of John and Elizabeth Paulk, a Devonshire couple who relocated to Wales and resided at 4 Bryn Howard Terrace, Oakdale. He worked as a local miner before enlisting in the 10th (Service) Battalion (1st Gwent), South Wales Borderers, ultimately proceeding overseas and arriving in France with his unit in December 1915.

By the summer of 1918, the battalion was operating under the 38th (Welsh) Division, actively taking part in the massive Allied 100 Days Offensive. This counter-attack began in early August across the war-torn Somme and Picardy sectors, steadily forcing German lines back.

During these fierce advances, Private W J Paulk (21400) sustained severe battle wounds and was evacuated behind the lines to Rouen. He tragically succumbed to his injuries on 31 August 1918, aged 32, at No. 1 Australian General Hospital. He is interred in Saint Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France, which served as the dedicated final resting place for casualties arriving at the sprawling wartime base hospital complexes.