John William Eaves (SN 1247) born in Ballarat, was a 21 year old labourer when he enlisted at Majorca on October 26th 1914. Assigned to the 8th Infantry Battalion, he embarked from Melbourne aboard the Clan Macgillivray on February 2nd 1915 destined for service at Gallipoli. After Gallipoli his unit was moved to France in late March 1916. He was wounded in action in May 1917 but was able to rejoin his unit a month later. He was wounded again in August 1918, a severe gunshot wound to his forearm, in fighting that earned for him a Military Medal. His citation, ‘During the attack on HERLEVILLE WOOD, near CHUIGNES on 23rd August 1918, Sgt Eaves acted as Company Sergeant Major and did splendid work assisting in maintaining direction and keeping touch with flank units. Then his company was held up by enemy machine gun fire he rushed forward at the machine gun nets firing his rifle as he went. His action overawed one of the gun crews which surrendered to him. He then rushed the other, gun bayonetted two of the crew and put the rest to flight. He turned one of the guns around and opened fire on the retreating Germans, effectively stopping further resistance and causing them a number of casualties.’ He was evacuated to hospital in England before being returned to Australia aboard the Mamari. He disembarked at Melbourne on February 4th 1919 and was discharged ‘medically unfit’ on April 5th.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Jack W. Eaves.