Charles Edwin Clarke (SN 3289) born in Ballarat, was a 32 year old tinsmith when he enlisted on July 13 1915. Assigned to the 7th Infantry Battalion his unit embarked from Melbourne aboard the Nestor on October 11 and sailed to Egypt. While there he was moved to the 59th Battalion for a short period before being attached to what was to be his permanent unit, the 5th Pioneer Battalion, with whom he moved to France in June 1916. In August 1916 he was evacuated to England, and admitted to the Tankerton Hospital in Kent, suffering from appendicitis. He rejoined his unit in early 1917 but was evacuated to England again after being wounded (gassed) on April 17th 1918. He was treated at the Reading War Hospital before returning to his unit in October, although he continued to have eye and vision problems attributable to exposure to mustard gas. After the fighting ceased he returned to Australia on the Trasos Montes, disembarking at Melbourne on May 22nd 1919.

His brothers William, Alfred and Aubrey all served in the AIF and are honoured with trees in the Avenue. His cousin Thomas also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.