William Dunstan (SN 2130/Lt) born in Ballarat, was a 20 year old clerk when he enlisted in the 7th Battalion on June 2nd 1915. His unit embarked from Melbourne, aboard the Wandilla on June 17th 1915. From August 5th he was an acting corporal with the 7th on Gallipoli where four days later he won the Victoria Cross his citation reading 'For most conspicuous bravey at Lone Pine trenches, in the Gallipoli Peninsula, on the 9th August, 1915. In the early morning the enemy made a determined counter attack on the centre of the newly captured trench held by Lieutenant Tubb, Corporals Burton and Dunstan, and a few men. They advanced up a sap and blew in a sandbag barricade, leaving only one foot of it standing; but Lieutenant Tubb, with the two corporals, repulsed the enemy and rebuilt the barricade. Supported by strong bombing parties, the enemy twice again succeeded in blowing in the barricade; but on each occasion they were repulsed, and the barricade rebuilt, although Lieutenant Tubb was wounded in the head and arm, and Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb while most gallantly building up the parapet under a hail of bombs.' He was also wounded, suffering from a shrapnel wound to his face and eyes. He was returned to Australia aboard the Ulysses on September 30th and was discharged February 1st 1916.

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