Reginald Clyde Polkinghorne (SN 1001) born in Ballarat, was a 20 year old draper when he enlisted in Ballarat on September 7th 1914. Assigned to the 8th Infantry Battalion with his brother Clifford, he embarked aboard the Benalla on October 19th. The brothers took part in the Gallipoli landing on April 25th 1915, but tragically Clifford was killed. Just two days later Reginald was wounded (unspecified) and was evacuated to hospital in England. Once recovered he was transferred to the Dental Corps with whom he served out the remainder of the war in England. On May 15th 1918 he married Ellen Marshallsay in Dorset, England. At the war’s end he returned to Australia aboard the Borda, disembarked at Melbourne on December 15th 1918 and was discharged on May 26th 1919.

His brother Clifford was killed in action on April 25th 1915 and is also honoured with a tree in the Avenue.