Reuben Hooley enlisted in Ballarat on 17th August 1914. He was 21 years old, single and employed as a painter. He had been born in Ballarat. He applied for the 8th Battalion because that was where his mates were. Ten days after the Landing the 8th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Brigade, was moved from Anzac Cove to Cape Helles to help in an attack on Krithia. The attack captured little ground but cost the 2nd Brigade almost a third of its strength in killed and wounded. Private Hooley was promoted Corporal on 8th May 1915. The battalion returned to Gallipoli on the 16th May, and was immediately involved in the battle as a reserve against a strong attack by the Turks.

Corporal Hooley was wounded in action at Gallipoli on 21st June 1915 and was evacuated to No. 2 Stationary Hospital at Mudros on the Greek island of Lemnos. On 9th October he was promoted to Lance Sergeant to replace Sergeant J. Foote who had been wounded in action. He stayed with the 8th Battalion on Gallipoli until the successful withdrawal of all troops to Egypt in December 1915. During the fighting around Pozieres Hooley received a gunshot wound to his right thigh on 21st August 1916. On 26th August 1918 Sergeant Hooley was the victim of a gas attack, and was evacuated to England where he was admitted to the Beaufort War Hospital on 30th August 1918. On 23rd September he was discharged to Littlemoor Camp at Weymouth, UK.

Tree No. 31, an elm, was planted by Miss F Stewart, a 'Lucas Girl', in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, on 4th June 1917.
Tree No. 39, was planted by Mrs Mitchell in the Ballarat North Avenue of Honour in Beaufort Crescent, in 1917.