David Norman Halladay (SN 14304) was born in Ballarat and a draper by trade when he enlisted in the May 1916 Reinforcements on July 8th 1915 at the age of 20. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A37 Barambah on June 27th 1916. In October 1916 he joined the 5th Division Medical Corps in France and a month later was attached to the 14th Field Ambulance, with whom he was serving when he came under notice for two quite contrasting behaviours.

In August 1917 he was charged with neglect to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that 'when ordered to parade in full marching order he did leave his great coat behind in his billet'. Twelve months after this misdemeanour, his gallantry earned him a Military Medal. His commendation read: On 30th August 1918 he worked with his squad under a very heavy barrage in front of the village of Villers Carbonnel south of Peronne, and evacuated about 20 patients in the most trying circumstances and at great personal risk. He did not consider his own safety and his fine example of courage, coolness and devotion to duty greatly assisted in the speedy evacuation of wounded from the danger zone'.

On November 3rd he was treated at hospital for a broken nose but no detail of the cause is recorded. He returned to Australia on the Chemnitz and disembarked at Melbourne on September 5th 1919.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as David N. Halliday.