William Brew (SN 578) born in Sydney, was a 22 year old journalist in Ballarat when he enlisted there on July 14th 1915. Assigned to the 31st Infantry Battalion he embarked from Melbourne aboard the Bakara on November 8th, first to England and then to France. On July 19th at Fromelles, he received a gunshot wound to his left forearm and was evacuated to hospital in England. Given the seriousness of his wound, it was decided that he should be returned to Australia. He returned aboard the Karoola, disembarked at Melbourne on December 2nd 1916 and was discharged medically unfit on May 4th 1917.

His Father Henry and his brother Harry also served in the AIF are honoured with trees in the Avenue.