Leslie Rowe was born in Ballarat and was a groom by trade when he enlisted in the 6th Battalion, 13th Reinforcement on July 24th 1915 at the age of 18. His unit embarked from Melbourne on board the Demosthenes in December. In June 1916 he arrived in France to join the 6th Battalion. In January 1917 he was in trouble when found guilty of 'drunkenness and creating a disturbance'. In April he sustained serious gunshot wounds to his back and head and was evacuated to hospital in France. His recovery was slow so in June he was transferred to the Richmond Military Hospital in England where it was decided he should return home. He returned to Australia on the Suevic, reaching Melbourne on November 18th 1917. He was discharged in February 1918 as 'medically unfit – bronchitis and varicose veins'.

His brother Thomas was killed in action in Belgium and is also honoured with a tree in the Avenue.