James Gitsham (4536/Lieutenant) was born in Ballarat and educated at Urquhart Street State School. At the time of his enlistment on March 11th 1915 he was 20 years old, single and employed as a salesman. He left Melbourne on board the Euripides in May and served at Gallipoli with the 5th Field Company, Australian Engineers where he was promoted to Corporal. After Gallipoli, he was transferred to the 55th Infantry Battalion where he was promoted to Sergeant in May 1916. In October 1916 he was discharged from the AIF and transferred to the Royal Flying Corps where he received his commission as 2nd Lieutenant in April 1917. He was killed in action on June 29th 1918, aged 23. He is buried in Vignacourt British Cemetery, France.

His brother Charles was killed in action in Belgium in 1917 and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.