Purtell lived in Fairfield, Victoria in 1915 and in Coburg, Victoria in 1916. His poetry at this time related to World War I, horseracing and a visit to Sydney. Some of the poems are acrostics.(Libraries Australia record). Purtell wrote In Memoriam: Sacred to the Memory of Poor Mick Mooney: Killed at Caulfield, Whilst Riding Colenso, on 6th May, 1905: Rest in Peace Poor Mick (1905) and Sydney Bed Bugs: Humorous Recitations (1915?), both one page poems.
