Fred Gribble enlisted in Ballarat when he was single and 22 years old and a was a tailor's cutter when he enlisted as a Private in the 8th Battalion , reached the rank of Sergeant, and then was returned to Australia on medical advice for a 3 month break In Australia he qualified at an Officer Promotion Course at Duntroon Military College. He returned to UK with reinforcements for the 29th Battalion, and during training before going to France he was transferred to the 60th Battalion. In September 1918 he was transferred to the 60th Battalion. Ten days after the Landing the 8th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Brigade, was moved from Anzac Cove to Cape Helles to help in an attack on Krithia. The attack captured little ground but cost the 2nd Brigade almost a third of its strength in killed and wounded. The battalion returned to Gallipoli on the 16th May, and was immediately involved in the battle as a reserve against a strong attack by the Turks. He was sent to Duntroon to attend a Junior Officers Course and graduated. He was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 1st October 1916, and returned to duty. He embarked in Melbourne on HMAT Suevic on 21st June 1917 in company with the 13th Reinforcements for the 29th Infantry Battalion. They disembarked at Liverpool, UK, on 26th August 1917, and marched into the 8th Training Battalion to prepare for their move to France and the Western Front.

Fred was transferred to the 59th Infantry Battalion. The battalion had been heavily involved in the fighting around Pozieres, and then in co-operation with the American forces in the breakthrough of the formidable German defences on the St Quentin Canal. On the 2nd October the 59th Battalion withdrew and moved to the rear areas to rest and re-enforce. It was still resting when the war ended. Lieutenant Fred Gribble was discharged from the AIF on 27th July 1919. Tree No. 26, an elm, was planted by Miss B. Davies, a 'Lucas Girl', in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, on 4th June 1917.

Fred had two brothers that also served. Private Charles Hedley Gribble (Tree No. 316), Returned to Australia 7 February 1919 and Gunner Ernest John Gribble (Tree No. 630), died of wounds, 1 October 1917
Tree No 26