Edgar Ernest Walter (SN 1007), born in Ararat, enlisted in Hamilton as a 27 year old stoker on April 10th 1916. His wife Catherine then moved to Ballarat. He embarked on May 25th 1916 and travelled first to England before crossing to France in November to serve with the 39th Infantry Battalion. After 10 months in France, he was returned to England in September 1917 where he was treated for illness after which he spent several months at the Musketry School at Tidworth. He returned to France in March 1918 and six months later his outstanding courage earned for him a Distinguished Conduct Medal, second only to a Victoria Cross, his citation reading, in part 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Clery on 31 August, 1918. Rushing ahead with a non-commissioned officer from another unit, he silenced eight machine guns by bombing and rifle fire, capturing the lot. Later, he again captured a number of machine guns, and finished up by storming three more heavy machine guns in company with a non-commissioned officer'. After the war he disembarked safely back in Melbourne on Anzac Day 1919.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his surname as Walters.