Leslie Edward Taylor was born in Inglewood, but was living and working in Ballarat when he enlisted on 17th August 1914. He was 24 years old, single, and employed as a miner. Private Les Taylor, as a member of the 6th Battalion, took part in the Landing at Anzac Cove in the second wave ashore on 25th April 1915. That first day was chaotic – the boats were in the wrong place, and were out of landing order, and so the troops were mixed up and disorientated The Turks were firing at them with machine guns. Snipers had come down the rough hills through the scrub and were shooting at the officers and junior leaders. Men were falling wounded and dead all around them. Some were dead before the boats reached the shore- others drowned as they were landed in deep water and their heavy packs held them under water.

Unfortunately, during this confusion Les Taylor died. Many roll calls were taken but it was not until 10 days after the Landing when the Battalion was required to go to assist the attack on Krithia, further down the Peninsula, that a more definitive roll call taken at that time confirmed that Private Les Taylor was missing. He may have been killed or he may have been a prisoner of the Turks. Eventually a Court of Enquiry was held on 24th April 1916 to determine his fate. The Turks had by that time identified the POW that they held. The Court determined that Private Leslie Edward Taylor was killed in action during the Landing but that the manner and place of his death were unknown. His death is recorded on the Lone Pine Memorial at Anzac Cove.

Tree No. 47 in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour is an elm. It was planted by Miss F. McMillan, a 'Lucas Girl', on 4th June 1917.