Alfred Ernest Brain (SN 6470) was a 35 year old cook from Yarrowee Street in Ballarat East when he enlisted on August 9th 1916. On October 2nd he sailed from Melbourne on the Nestor as a reinforcement for the 8th Battalion. He reached England in mid-November and continued to train there until deployed to France in October 1917. Two months later he was evacuated to the Exeter War Hospital in England, suffering from severe synovitis in his right knee. His record was not completely unblemished, being reported as absent without leave on several occasions. In March of 1918 it was decided he should be returned to Australia, and, sailing on the Dunvegan Castle and the Tofua, he reached Melbourne on June 14th 1918.

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