William James Alexander (James) Cock (SN 4083) born at Ballarat, was a 19 year old wool blender when he enlisted on January 10th 1916. He trained with the 14th Depot Battalion at Ballarat before moving to Broadmeadows where he was assigned to the 21st Infantry Battalion. He sailed from Melbourne on March 7th aboard the Wiltshire. In early August he crossed to France but three weeks later, on September 1st, he was wounded in action. He suffered a gunshot wound to his left chest and shoulder and was evacuated to hospital in England. His wound rendered him unfit for further active service and on February 13th 1917 he left England to return to Australia on the Benalla. He was discharged as ‘medically unfit’ on August 7th 1917.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as James A. Cock.