James Vincent Flynn (SN 2076) born at Casterton, was a 30 year old labourer when he enlisted on May 10th 1916. Attached to the 39th Battalion his unit embarked from Melbourne aboard the Shropshire on September 25th 1916. In April 1917 he crossed to France where he was wounded in action on June 7th. He suffered severe gunshot or shrapnel wounds to his face, chest and left shoulder and was evacuated to hospital in London. It was a year before he was fit to return to active service, rejoining the 39th Battalion in late June 1918. On August 10th during the fighting near Amiens he was again wounded, gassed, and once more evacuated to England where he saw out the last three months of the war. He returned to Australia on the Soudan, reaching Melbourne on June 29th 1919 and was discharged on June 6th 1920.

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