Albert Watson (SN 2168) born in Clunes, was an 18 year old pastry cook when he enlisted in Ballarat on May 11th 1916. Assigned to the 39th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Shropshire on September 25th. He reached the battle front in France in February 1917 and in October he suffered wounds to his left eye and ear which took two months to heal. More than once he broke military rules, on one occasion being charged with ‘walking out improperly dressed having no waist belt’. He returned to Australia aboard the Konigin Luise, disembarked at Melbourne on August 13th 1919 and was discharged on April 6th 1920. He also enlisted to serve during WW2 with service number VX40494.

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