William Madden (SN 122) born at Sebastopol, was a 24 year old labourer when he enlisted at Ballarat on August 17th 1914. He embarked with the 8th Infantry Battalion aboard the Benalla on October 19th and took part in the Gallipoli landing on April 25th 1915. In August he suffered a gunshot wound to his foot and was evacuated to hospital on Lemnos, rejoining his unit in November, just a month before the Gallipoli campaign ended. Back in Egypt he was transferred to the 46th Battalion but soon reported ear discomfort, the return of a long-term ear problem. He was then returned to Australia aboard the Port Sydney, disembarked at Melbourne on July 22nd 1916 and was discharged ‘medically unfit, deafness’ on September 3rd.

His brother John also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.