Robert Archibald Dale (SN 4768) was born in Ballarat where he enlisted on October 23rd 1915. Along with his younger brother Jack, the 23 year old bank clerk began his training with the 14th Depot Battalion at the Ballarat Showgrounds before moving to Broadmeadows. He and Jack embarked from Melbourne aboard the Wiltshire in March 1916 and sailed first to Egypt before joining the 8th Battalion in France at the end of July. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in October 1917, then to Corporal in September the following year. Apart from being in and out of hospital several times with trench fever in the first few months of 1918, he appears to have survived the war relatively unscathed. He left England to return to Australia aboard the Soudan in May 1919 and was discharged on August 13th 1919.

His younger brother Alfred was killed in action during the Battle of Menin Road in September 1917. Another brother Jack also served in the AIF. Both are honoured with trees in the Avenue.