Albert George Youens (SN 9398) was a 23 year old carpenter from Dytes Parade in Ballarat East when he enlisted on July 16th 1915. He trained with the Australian Medical Corps at Ascot Vale and Broadmeadows before embarking for overseas service on the Ulysses on March 1st 1916. In May he joined the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance in Egypt and soon after was appointed as a driver. In early August of 1917 he sustained a severely bruised hip which required admission to hospital. A subsequent Court of Enquiry found that he had been injured in an accident while transporting an injured soldier, and no blame was assigned to him. On the last day of 1917 he was charged with ‘neglecting to bring feed and grooming kit when falling in for early morning parade’ for which he received 48 hours of Field Punishment No.2.
After the war he returned to Australia on the Aeneas, disembarking at Melbourne on February 5th 1919.
He died on January 17th 1973 at the age of 80.
His brothers William and Norman also served in the AIF and are honoured with trees in the Avenue.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Albert J. Youens