Alfred Charles Bignell (SN 781) born in Ballarat, was a 24 year old labourer when he enlisted in Melbourne on December 1st 1914. Posted to the 4th Light Horse Regiment he sailed from Melbourne aboard the Katuna on February 3rd 1915 and in July he was deployed to Gallipoli. He was only at Gallipoli for a month before rheumatism and lumbago forced his evacuation to hospital on Malta and then England. While there an episode of drunk and disorderly conduct earned him 21 days in detention. During 1916 he had multiple short attachments to other units until October 1917 when he joined the 39th Infantry Battalion in France. In May 1918 following two stints of absence without leave he faced a charge of negligently shooting himself in the foot. He was evacuated to England where he saw out the remainder of the war. On July 26th 1919 he married Ethel Arnold in London. In October he left England aboard the Orontes, reaching Melbourne in early December and was discharged on February 5th 1920.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Alfred Bignall.