Stephen James Whitburn Williams (SN 3947), born at Daylesford, was a 25 year old labourer when he enlisted at Ballarat on August 7th 1915. He embarked from Melbourne on the Ceramic, on November 23rd, assigned to the 14th Infantry Battalion. He was transferred to the 46th Battalion and proceeded to France in June 1916. On August 30th he was wounded in action when he received a gunshot wound to his left hand. He was evacuated to hospital in England where he was assessed as unfit for further active service. In May 1917 he boarded the Miltiades for return to Australia and disembarked at Melbourne on July 2nd. He was discharged ‘medically unfit – disability, GSW left hand’. on September 27th 1917.

His brother Edmund was killed in action in August 1915 at Gallipoli and is also honoured with a tree in the Avenue.