Claude Harold Schaefer (SN 2045) born in Ballarat and attended Urquhart Street State school. He was a 23 year old painter when he enlisted on July 23rd 1915. He embarked on the Anchises a month later and travelled to Gallipoli to join the 22nd Infantry Battalion. He wasn’t at Gallipoli for long until, in November, influenza forced his evacuation. Once recovered he moved on to France where, on July 3rd 1916, he suffered serious wounds to his neck and hand. He was evacuated to hospital in England where it was eventually decided he should be returned to Australia. He left England aboard the Ayrshire in late May 1917, reached Melbourne in August and was discharged ‘medically unfit’ on August 23rd 1917.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as C. Schafer.

His brother John Charles George Schafer (SN 10620) also served but does not have a tree in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.