Leslie Gordon Close (SN 34984) was born in Prahran but was living with his parents in Ballarat when he enlisted on February 6th 1917. The 21 year-old clerk joined the 5th Field Artillery Brigade and was promoted to gunner in May before embarking from Melbourne with his unit on board the Port Sydney in November. Posted to France in March 1918, his overseas service seems to have passed relatively uneventfully. In August 1919 he was granted 12 months leave to travel to America "for the purpose of instruction in Agriculture and Pig Raising methods". He returned to Australia on board the Ventura and was discharged from service on June 27th 1920.

His older brothers Robert and Hector both served in the AIF and are honoured with trees in the Avenue.