Osborne Cole (SN 4165) born in Ballarat, was a 22 year old blacksmith when he enlisted in Ballarat on July 17th 1915. Posted to the 14th Infantry Battalion he embarked aboard the Demosthenes on November 29th. Shortly after his arrival in Egypt he was transferred to the 46th Battalion for service on the Western Front. On April 11th 1917 he suffered a severe gunshot wound to his left arm and was evacuated to England. Once recovered he rejoined his unit but on August 25th 1918 he was wounded in action again when he was gassed. Again evacuated to hospital in England he was destined not to return to the battlefields. He left England in January 1919 aboard the City of Exeter, reached Melbourne on March 2nd and was discharged on April 16th 1919. He also enlisted to serve during World War 2.

Lucas’s Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, the original Avenue register, records his name as Edward O. Cole.