Albert Victor Chan DCM (SN165) born in Ballarat, was a 19 year old labourer when he enlisted in Melbourne on August 17th 1914. With the 8th Infantry Battalion he embarked from Melbourne on October 19th aboard the Benalla, first to Egypt and then to Gallipoli. In August he was evacuated from to Egypt due to severe rheumatism, rejoining his unit at Gallipoli in September. In March 1916 he was moved to France where, in July, he suffered a wound to his thigh and was evacuated to England, rejoining his unit in September. In 1917 he spent some time on detachment to the 2nd Training Battalion in England but rejoined his unit in France in January 1918. In April he was again wounded, suffering a shrapnel wound to the shoulder, but was able to rejoin his unit and earn for himself a Distinguished Conduct Medal ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the attack on Lihons, 11 August 1918, in charge of a platoon on the right. When the objective was reached, he found a defensive flank as the unit on his right had not got up. The enemy then counter attacked in front, and as his platoon was very weak, he let them come into the trench, when each man threw his one remaining bomb, and then rushed in with the bayonet, completely surprising the enemy, and restoring the situation. He handled his men with fine judgment.' Before the war ended, he was granted ‘special 1914 leave’ and returned to Australia aboard the Port Lyttleton, disembarked at Melbourne on Christmas Day 1918 and was discharged on February 23rd 1919.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Victor A. Chan.