Frank Tonkin (SN 616) was born in Ballarat where he was working as a miner when he enlisted on March 13th 1916. After training in Geelong, the 21 year old joined the 39th Battalion and was absent without leave for 30 days before embarking for England on board the Ascanius in May. In November 1916, his unit was posted to France where he was wounded in action the following June and admitted to hospital suffering from gas poisoning. This resulted in his transfer to hospital in England for further treatment in August and his eventual repatriation to Australia. He left England on board the Euripides at the end of January 1918, disembarked in Melbourne in March and was discharged from the AIF on April 30th 1918.

His father Joseph also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.