Harry Leophold Coombs (SN 3275) was a 19 year old painter from Albert Street Sebastopol at the time of his enlistment on July 8th 1915. He trained in Melbourne at the Showgrounds and at Flemington Racecourse before embarking with the 7th Battalion on the Nestor on October 11th. In February 1916 he was transferred to the 59th then the 58th Battalion before finally being attached to the 12th Field Artillery Battery with whom he served in France. He was troubled by illness and two ‘absent without leave’ charges through the first half of 1917. He was also hospitalised with influenza in 1918 but came through the war without significant physical wounds. After the fighting ceased, he sailed from Liverpool in April 1919 on the Wyreema and disembarked in Melbourne May 31st and was discharged on July 25th.

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

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Harry L. Coombes.