Edmund John Thompson (SN 3223) born in Ballarat, was an 18 year old blacksmith when he enlisted in Melbourne on March 5th 1915. He embarked aboard the Ajana on June 4th and sailed via Egypt to Gallipoli which he reached in late August. He was serving with the 6th Field Ambulance when in late September he received severe shrapnel wounds to his leg and arm. He was evacuated to Malta and then on to England. He rejoined his unit in Egypt in March 1916 before moving to France two weeks later. He completed his service on the Western Front without major incident and returned to Australia aboard the Derbyshire, disembarked at Melbourne on April 22nd 1919 and was discharged on July 9th.

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