Albert Henry Penhall was born in Ballarat East and was a Patternmaker living on Peake Street, Ballarat East, Victoria when he enlisted in the Australian Flying Corps, No 2 Squadron, Head-Quarters on 29 June 1915 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 25 October 1916, disembarking at Plymouth on 28 December 1916 whereupon he was attached to the 69th Australian Squadron, Royal Flying Corps. On 20 November 1917 he received a commission to Lieutenant. During 1918 he fought reoccurring bouts of illness resulting in being admitted to hospital on several occasions for neurasthenia. Although his records don't note any serious injury, he was admitted to hospital for a concussion due to an aeroplane crash. Due to his illness he was rendered permanently unfit to pilot and returned to Australia from England on 9 December 1918.
Tree No. 2156