James William Surman (SN 3144) born at Cardigan, was a married 43 year old teacher at Woolsthorpe when he enlisted at Warrnambool on March 18th 1916. As a reinforcement for the 39th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Ballarat on February 19th 1917. As the Ballarat approached the English coast on Anzac Day it was torpedoed and sank in the English Channel but fortunately no lives were lost. Surman’s service was hampered by chronic rheumatism, and he remained in England where he served with the Pay Corps, underwent officer training and spent time as a weapons instructor. Assessed as unfit for active service he was returned to Australia aboard the Balmoral Castle and discharged as medically unfit on April 8th 1918.

His brothers Geoffrey and Theodore also served in the AIF and are honoured with trees in the Avenue.