Frederick James Pinney (SN 4281) born at Ballarat, was a 20 year old watch maker when he enlisted in Ballarat on July 24th 1915. As a reinforcement for the 14th Infantry Battalion, he embarked aboard the Demosthenes on December 29th, first to Egypt then in June to France. In mid-1917 he was hospitalised for 59 days due to a social disease, rejoining his unit in September. In October he went absent without leave for five months until apprehended by military police in London. He faced a court martial and was sentenced to two years detention. With the end of the war, 474 days of his sentence were remitted and he returned to Australia aboard the Armagh, disembarked on May 18th 1919 and was discharged. He enlisted for service in WW2 (SN V84953) but died of pneumonia a month after enlisting.

His brother Edward was killed in action in August 1916 and cousin Arthur also served in the AIF and they are honoured with trees in the Avenue.