Edward Welsh (SN 10956) was born in Ballarat but was a 30 year old baker and cook in New Zealand at the outbreak of war. Leaving his wife and two children, he returned to Ballarat to enlist with his brother in July 1915. Being an excellent cook, he was assigned to duty in the officers’ mess at Broadmeadows and did not embark for overseas service until he boarded the Persic in June 1916. In November 1916 he reached France to serve with the 3rd Division Train. In August 1917 he was appointed as Instructor and Inspector of Catering for the division. In mid-1918 trench fever forced his evacuation to hospital in England. After the war he returned to Melbourne aboard the Themistocles, disembarked on August 8th 1919 and was discharged on September 22nd.

His brother John also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.