David Roy Stanley (SN 1041) was born in Bendigo and educated at Ballarat’s Urquhart Street State School. He was a blacksmith at the time of his enlistment on March 6th 1915 at the age of 18. He joined the 24th Infantry Battalion and embarked from Melbourne in May 1915 aboard the Euripides. He spent a short period on Gallipoli before being evacuated to Egypt suffering from pleurisy. In France he joined the 2nd Pioneer Battalion and was involved in the famous battles at Armentieres, Pozieres and Bullecourt. In November 1917 he was wounded in action near Ypres in Belgium, suffering severe gunshot wounds to his chest and arm. He was repatriated to Australia in March 1918 but remained hospitalised until his death on July 4th 1919. Aged 22 he was buried in Ballarat’s New Cemetery.

His brother Herbert was killed in action at Gallipoli and is also honoured with a tree in the Avenue..