Albert Clarence Bird enlisted in Footscray on 18th August 1914. He was single and aged 19. He said that he was a railway porter, but in 1918 when being examined by a Medical Board he claimed that his former occupation was telegraphist. On the 5th August 1915 Albert Bird was admitted to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on Gallipoli. He was diagnosed as suffering from appendicitis, and evacuated to No. 16 Stationary Hospital, at Mudros on the Greek island of Lemnos. He was then transferred to a Hospital Ship and taken to St Andrew's Hospital on Malta on 9th August 1915. There his condition was identified as dysentery.

The 7th Battalion survivors were divided into two groups: one to form the basis of the new 58th Infantry Battalion, and the other to be the nucleus of the re-inforced 7th Battalion. Generally the Commanding Officers of the battalions to be split sent their trouble makers and less effective NCOs and officers to the new battalions. Albert Bird was transferred to the 58th Battalion. The 58th Battalion was part of the disastrous Battle of Fromelles. The battalion had the dual role of providing carrying parties, to move supplies forward and casualties back, as well as being in reserve to the attacking battalions. The reserve force comprised about half the battalion and was ordered to attack late in the battle, and was virtually annihilated by German machine gun fire. As a whole the battalion suffered casualties of almost a third of its strength. Despite its grievous losses the 5th Division, of which the 58th was part, was required to man the frontline trenches in the Fromelles sector for a further two months.

Private Albert Clarence Bird was discharged from the AIF on 16th October 1918. Tree No. 51 , an elm, was planted in his name in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour on 4th June 1917 by Miss B. Cameron, a 'Lucas Girl' .

Tree No. 20 was planted in his name in the Monash Avenue of Honour in Ballarat North.