John Brain (SN 190) was a 27 year old labourer from Yarrowee Street when he enlisted in Ballarat on July 12th 1915. He was allotted to 29th Battalion reinforcements and embarked from Melbourne on November 10th aboard the Ascanius. In Egypt in early 1916 he was constantly troubled by pleurisy then in April he was transferred to the 46th Battalion and moved to France in June. In February 1917 he was wounded in action, sustaining a gunshot wound to his right leg which necessitated his evacuation to the Birmingham War Hospital in England. In May, while still convalescing, he was found guilty of being absent without leave and sentenced to nine days in detention. He was able to rejoin his battalion in France in November but was soon transferred to the 2nd Canadian Tunnelling Company. In January 1918 he was gassed and once again evacuated to England, to the Eastbourne Military Hospital. While recovering in England, further illness required his admission to hospital at Bulford. After the war he returned home on the Saxon, disembarking at Melbourne on January 30th 1919.

His brother Alfred also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.