Avenue of Trees

The Avenue of Scarlet Oak trees honours the courage and self-sacrifice of 16 servicemen from Officer who died in action during the Great War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945).

The trees were planted in 2025 to replace an avenue of trees that were removed in the 1970s for road widening. They were dedicated by a Chaplin in April 2026 in memory of the following fallen servicemen. An extra tree is dedicated to an unknown soldier in symbolic memory of all unknown fallen soldiers whose remains have not been found or identified.

A living and enduring tribute to their service and sacrifice. The avenue was formally commemorated at a service held prior to ANZAC Day 2026, attended by families, RSL, Military chaplain, bugler. MP, community members, and supporters.

The project was undertaken with a strong focus on historical respect, community involvement, and permanence as a place of remembrance. It is intended that the site serve both as a commemorative landscape and as an educational point of reflection for future generations.

This memorial now stands as a completed site of significance, and it is important that it be formally recognised within Australia’s national record of remembrance.

World War 1 (1914-1918)

820,Corporal Percival Thomas Beadel

24th Infantry Battalion AIF

Killed in action 17/1/1917 Aged 20

Buried :St Sever Cemetery Extension ,Rouen, France

Lieutenant Alan Cathcart Davies

59th Infantry Battalion

Died of wounds 25/4/18 Age 27

Buried: Vignacourt British Cemetery, Picardie, France

4740 Private William Johnston

21st Infantry Battalion

Killed in action 12/11/16 Age 43

Buried: Honour, Villers- Bretonneux Memorial, France

19922 Gunner James Alexander Lecky

8th Field Artillery Brigade

Died of wounds 14/11/18 Age 27

Buried: St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France

6612 Gunner William Mervyn Lecky

4th Field Artillery Brigade

Killed in Action 1/9/18 Age 23

Buried: Peronne Communal Cemetery, France

Received the Military Medal

2733 Private James Patrick Osborne

7th Infantry Battalion

Killed in action 19/8/16 Age 37

Buried: Serre Road Cemetery, No2 France

997 Corporal Albert John Kempson Skellett

8th Light Horse Regiment

Died of wounds 20/4/17 Age 28

Buried: Deir El Belah War Cemetery, Israel

3935 Private Leonard James Whitney

21 Infantry Battalion

Died of wounds:13/12/17, Age 36

Buried: Dernancourt Cemetery Extension, France

521 PrivateClive Wellington Were

5th Infantry Battalion

Killed in action Gallipoli. Turkey 25/4/15, Age 26

Buried: Lone Pine, Gallipoli Peninsula Turkey

26734 Gunner William Alfred Ernest Pryor

14 Field Artillery Brigade

Killed in action :8/4/17, Age 30

Buried: Morchies Australian Cemetery, France;

World War 11 (1939-1945)

VX41816 Private Walter Allan Clark

2nd/14th Australian Infantry Battalion

Killed in Action New Guinea 8/9/42, Aged 29

Buried: Bomana War Cemetery, Port Moresby

VX17562Lance Corporal Alfred Jack Simmons

2nd/5th Australian Infantry Battalion

Died of Pneumonia 6/5/42, Aged 27

Buried : Borella Kanattha Cemetery, Columbo, Sri Lanka

VX46705 Lance Sergeant William Alan Swift

2nd/11th Australian Field Regiment

Died in Brisbane 27/11/42, Aged 23

Buried: Toowong Cemetery, Queensland

Surgeon Commander John Reid Hasker

Royal Australian Navy

Lost in HMAS Sydney,Indian Ocean ,19/11/41, Aged 41

430767 Flight Sergeant Jack Stanley Robinson

Royal Australian Air Force

Died in training accident 19/1/45 Age 21

Buried: Cambridge City Cemetery, UK

VX5844 Corporal Walter George Johnston

2nd/5th Australian Infantry Battallion

Killed in Action 3/1/41, Aged 30

Buried: Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery, Egypt

Lest we forget

This project was made possible through the generous contributions of :Cardinia Shire Council ,Southside Racing,JFT Nurseries, Upper Beaconsfield RSL ,Berwick and Dandenong RSLs ,Garfield Sawmills ,and Akoona Park Men’s Shed Inc .

The project was initiated and co ordinated by Geoff Griffiths , Military Veteran