Francis John Robert Penhalluriack was born in Ballarat East and was already a soldier when he enlisted in the 21st Battalion, 19th Reinforcement as a Warrant Officer Class II on 6 March 1917 at the age of 23. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A11 Ascanius on 11 May 1917. He was appointed as a Military Staff Clerk with the 1st Army Headquarters in France on 14 November 1917. He left England for Australia aboard the H.T. Orvieto on 1 November 1919, reaching Brisbane on 19 December. On 7 April 1920 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of ævaluable services rendered in connection with the war.'

His brother, Lance Corporal William Stanley Penhalluriack, Australian Army Signal Corps, returned to Australia, 19 August 1919 also served (Tree No. 3028).
Tree No. 3029