John Pearce (SN 3860) was born in Ballarat and attended the Mt Pleasant State School. He was a 24 year old timber cutter when he enlisted in the 8th Infantry Battalion on August 18th 1914, embarking from Melbourne on board the Benalla in October. He was wounded at Gallipoli in early May and evacuated to hospital in England. While recovering he was transferred to the 1st Pioneer Battalion before moving to France in April 1916. He was killed in action at Pozieres on July 25th 1916. He has no known grave and his name is recorded on the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.

His cousin Billy was killed at Broodseinde Ridge and is also honoured with a tree in the Avenue.