Ethel May Bolton from Webster Street in Ballarat was the daughter of Lt. Colonel William Bolton who commanded the 8th Battalion. The third of 11 children, aged 29, she had nursed at the Ballarat Hospital for four years before joining the Australian Army Nursing Service on April 10th 1915. Just three days later on April 13th she sailed from Australia and served at Salonika until she returned on the Mooltan in December, suffering an arthritic problem. She served at Base Camp in Melbourne until June 1917 when she embarked on the Mooltan and served once again at Salonika. She returned to Australia on the Ulimaroa in March 1919 and was awarded the Royal Red Cross 2nd Class.

Her father Lt. Colonel William Bolton and brother Hunter also served in the AIF and are honoured with trees in the Avenue.