John Isaac Bulluss (SN 1201) was born at Smeaton but was living in Raglan Street Ballarat when he enlisted in Ballarat on February 21st 1916. He was married to Lily, listed his occupation as ‘van proprietor’ and declared his age as 44. He trained with the 39th Battalion before embarking on the Ascanius on May 27th, and by the end of November 1916, he was on the battlefields of France. Just a month later, on December 27th he was wounded in action at Armentieres, sustaining a mild gunshot wound to the head. He was evacuated to the Edmonton Military Hospital in England and it was six months before he was cleared to return to duty. Around the same time, in mid-1917, it was discovered that his true age was 52, so he was assigned duties at AIF Headquarters for the remainder of the war. He returned to Australia on the Bremen and disembarked at Melbourne on July 21st 1920, 20 months after the cessation of hostilities. He died in February 1953 at the age of 85.

His sons John Arthur and Albert also enlisted to served in the AIF and are honoured with a tree in the Avenue.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as John I Bullus.