Nathaniel Dunbar Barton was a 20 year old medical student from Wellington, New South Wales who enlisted in the 7th Light Horse Brigade. Prior to the outbreak of the First World War, Barton had been a second lieutenant in the 34th Battalion of the Citizen Military Forces. He departed Sydney aboard HMAT Ajana on 19 December 1914 and arrived in Egypt in early February 1915. Two of his brothers, Private Denis Hampden Barton and Private Brian Templar Barton also enlisted.

After joining the fighting at Gallipoli in early May 1915, Barton was promoted to lieutenant. He was wounded in July and returned to Egypt to recuperate. In 1916 and 1917, Barton served with the 7th Light Horse across the Middle East, including the battle of Romani. He was promoted to the rank of major in September 1916. In mid-1918 Barton received a Mention in Despatches for assisting the 5th Light Horse to defend their position on a key hill at Tel-el-Negily.

After returning to Australia Barton completed his studies in medicine and began working in Parkes, New South Wales. Barton also served during the Second World War as a lieutenant colonel with the Medical Corps at Darwin and Moratai, New Guinea. During this time, he was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his distinguished service to the war effort in New Guinea. After the war, Nathaniel Barton returned to Australia and settled in Wellington, New South Wales where he established a successful private medical practice.