Leslie Freeman was born in Maryborough, but when he enlisted in Ballarat on 17th August 1914 he was living with his mother at 4 Blair Street, Ballarat East. He was 24 years of age, single and working as a labourer. On 21st March 1916 Private Les Freeman was transferred at his own request from the 8th Battalion to the Australian Army Medical Corps. He was then attached to the Regimental Aid Post [RAP] of the 8th Battalion as a medical assistant.
On 26th March 1916 the 8th Battalion embarked at Alexandria on HMT Megantic for the voyage across the Mediterranean to Marseilles in France. They then travelled across France in the well known train carriages designed for ' 8 horses or 40 men'. On the 8th November Les Freeman was admitted to 6th Convalescent Depot with influenza and was discharged to the 1st Australian Division Base Depot Base at Etaples, France, two days later. He rejoined the 8th Battalion on 2nd January 1917.
He had completed the necessary procedures he was discharged from the AIF on 31st January 1919. Tree No. 35, an elm, was planted by Miss G. James, a 'Lucas Girl', in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, on 4th June 1917.