James Davidson Twaits (SN 20264) was born at Warrnambool and was a 24 year old plumber in Ballarat when he enlisted on July 10th 1915. He embarked for active service on May 20th 1916 aboard the Medic assigned to the 8th Field Artillery Brigade. He reached the battlefields of France on December 30th 1916. During his service on the Western Front he twice suffered serious shrapnel wounds, in July 1917 and in April 1918. On both occasions he was evacuated to England for treatment. After the war he left England aboard the Zealandia and reached Melbourne on June 28th 1919. He was discharged on September 1st 1919.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as J.D. Twaites.