Alfred Raynor Edmends (SN 443) born at Broomfield near Creswick, was a 24 year old married hairdresser when he enlisted in Ararat on March 28th 1916. Assigned to the 39th Infantry Battalion he embarked aboard the Ascanius on May 27th and sailed to England, then on to France in November 1916. In January 1917 he was wounded, severe shell shock, and evacuated to hospital in England. After several months he was able to rejoin his unit and serve out the remainder of the war. he returned to Australia aboard the Wiltshire, disembarked at Melbourne on August 14th 1919 and was discharged on October 19th. He also enlisted to serve during World War 2.

His brother William was killed in action in December 1915 and is also honoured with a tree in the Avenue.